Period poverty forces schoolgirls out of classrooms

Many adolescent girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say the onset of menstruation—a natural biological process—signals days of missed school, anxiety and exclusion driven by poverty and stigma. The girls spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day. NAN […]

Many adolescent girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say the onset of menstruation—a natural biological process—signals days of missed school, anxiety and exclusion driven by poverty and stigma.

The girls spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

NAN reports that Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to highlight the importance of menstrual care and raise awareness about the challenges faced by people who lack access to sanitary products.

The theme for this year’s observance is PeriodFriendlyWorld,” bringing together governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations, researchers and communities to promote menstrual health and hygiene.

Speaking, 18-year-old Hannatu Salihu, who lives in Pigba-Kasa, a hard-to-reach community in the Apo area of the FCT, said she experienced her first menstrual cycle at the age of 13.

Salihu said meeting basic daily needs often takes priority over personal hygiene.

“What initially felt like a proud transition into womanhood quickly became a recurring source of anxiety. (NAN)

“Following the loss of my father and the absence of my mother, I now live with my elderly grandmother, whose limited resources are barely enough to provide basic meals.

“When I ask for money to buy sanitary pads, nobody considers it a priority. There is simply no money,” she said.

According to her, the rising cost of disposable sanitary products has made menstrual hygiene unaffordable for many girls like her.

“I often rely on a friend for support, but when that help is unavailable, I am forced to stay at home.

“I remain indoors during my period because I have nothing to use,” she said.

Her situation reflects a broader challenge affecting adolescent girls across underserved communities in the FCT, including Waru, Tasha, Kabusa and Kwali, where many girls miss school every month because of menstruation.

Mrs Oyeyemi Pitan, Executive Director of Gem Hub Initiative, said the fear of staining school uniforms and being ridiculed by peers continued to contribute to absenteeism among teenage girls.

Pitan, who is also an educationist, said menstruation, a natural part of life, had long been surrounded by stigma, silence and misinformation.

“It is time to change this and create a society where every woman and girl can manage her menstrual health with confidence, dignity and pride.

“The government must foster an environment where menstruation is openly discussed and menstrual health education is accessible to all,” she said.

She added that cultural taboos and inadequate information had fuelled harmful misconceptions about menstruation, resulting in shame, fear and isolation for girls and women.

According to her, comprehensive menstrual health education should be integrated into school curricula, covering both the biological aspects of menstruation and practical guidance on menstrual hygiene management.

“Boys and men should also be included to foster a supportive environment.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that sanitary products are affordable and accessible to all and to advocate for safe and private sanitation facilities in schools, workplaces and public places,” she said.

Similarly, Ms Rejoice Abaku, a student in Mabushi, described how she often improvised with pieces of cloth or tissue paper because she lacked access to proper menstrual products.

“While in class, I avoid sitting down to prevent embarrassment. Sometimes, I kneel throughout lessons,” she said.
Dr Gabriel Adakole, a public health expert, warned that such unsafe practices increased the risk of infections, including reproductive and urinary tract infections, due to poor hygiene.

Adakole also noted that inadequate school infrastructure worsened the situation, as many public schools lacked clean water, functional toilets and private spaces for girls to manage menstruation safely. (NAN)