By Yemisi Dada
Students of twelve public schools in Lagos on Thursday were educated on Menstrual Hygiene as WaterAid Nigeria, Association of Professional Women in Engineering of Nigeria, APWEN and other development partners commemorated the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day in Ikeja.
The participating schools included Oregun Junior High School, Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Local government Primary School, Ijegun, Agidingbi Junior Grammar School, Omole Junior Grammar School, Farm Settlement Community Primary School, Ikorodu among others.
Speaking at the event, WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Ms Evelyn Mere, called on the government, private sector and policy makers to integrate menstrual health into national and sub national WASH, health, gender and education policies.
Ms Mere who was represented by Head of Lagos Programme, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Adebayo Alao, underscored the need to prioritise inclusive and climate resilient WASH facilities and menstrual services in schools and public spaces.
According to her, there is also the need to challenge menstrual stigma through community engagement and advocacy as well as invest in behavioral change and community education to tackle harmful norms and taboos.
“The 2025 theme of the Menstrual Hygiene day, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”, resonates deeply with WaterAid’s mission. Periods should never be a barrier to education, livelihood or dignity”
According to her, five hundred million people globally lack access to adequate menstrual products and facilities.
Speaking on Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, Empowering Everyone through Education and Dignity, Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District six, Dr Abimbola Mabogunje, educated the students on personal hygiene during their monthly period while reiterating the commitment of the Lagos State government to ensuring no girl child is our of school during her flow as it will make school environment conducive through provision of female friendly toilets.
Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr Adeoye Adesola stated that feminine hygiene products is a multi-billion dollar industry, which, if properly tapped into, can generate income for many and significantly boost economic growth.
“Through this event, we aim
i Raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and its importance.
Promote education and dialogue about menstruation.
iii. Advocate for policies and programs that support menstrual health hygiene.
Improving menstrual hygiene and providing access to affordable menstrual
materials can heln improve girls’ and women’s access to education, opening more options for jobs, promotions, and entrepreneurship, thus unleashing female
contributions to the overall economy, rather than keeping them at home” Adeboye said
In an address of welcome, the Chairman of the Association of Professional Women in Engineering, APWEN, Lagos State Chapter, Dr Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, charged the students to be a generation that will challenge stigmas, amplify the voices of the marginalized, and create inclusive innovations.
“Your presence here today is a testament to the power of awareness and the promise of a new generation,” Owolabi said.
She called on stakeholders be it as policymakers, health advocates, engineers, students, or parents to commit to the following course:
"Advocate for access to safe, affordable menstrual products"“Build clean and private WASH facilities in schools and public spaces.
“Design and implement inclusive policies”
"Speak up. educate and support the girl-child in their development."The students were exposed to counselling by qualified counsellors from the Primary Health Care Board.
While calling on government to provide free sanitary pads for students in public schools and provision of pad banks in school toilets, the students expressed gratitude to WaterAid Nigeria and its development partners for the awareness, sensitization on maintaining good menstrual hygiene.
Highpoint of the event was the drama presentations by students of different schools, interactive sessions and surprise birthday songs and Cake cutting for the Guest Speaker, Dr Abimbola Mabogunje.