From Ernest Nzor, Abuja
The Founder of the Centre for Teens Health and Development (Centre4Teens), Morenikejimi Olaniran, has called on men to actively join the fight against period shame.
She also urged policymakers and donors to prioritise menstrual health as a national issue.
Olaniran disclosed this in Abuja during a menstrual health and reproductive rights outreach to underserved communities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
She stressed that breaking the stigma around menstruation is key to ensuring that girls manage their menstrual health with dignity and without shame.
The initiative, funded by NextWorldNow Community Investment under the Education and Reproductive Health programme, was implemented across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT): Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, Abuja Municipal, and Abaji, reaching more than 1,464 adolescent girls and young women.
Olaniran recalled one emotional moment when a young girl said it was the first time anyone explained menstruation to her in a way that made her feel “normal and not cursed.”
The one-year intervention, which ran from October 2024 to September 2025, reached 13 underserved communities and IDP camps, including Asharra, Kilankwa, Tarkushara IDP Camp, Karamaojigi Disabilities Camp, and Dukpa Community.
Olaniran said: “My message is simple: menstruation is not just a ‘women’s issue.’ It is a societal issue. Boys and men have a role to play in breaking stigma, supporting sisters, classmates, daughters, and creating an environment where periods are no longer hidden in shame but embraced as a normal part of life.
“Boys and men need to support their female daughters or families more, be able to support when needed, and understand that all women have different experiences during menstruation. Some can have painful periods, while others may have unpaid periods. They should show empathy and support at all times.”
Through peer education, participants were trained on menstrual health, reproductive rights, personal hygiene, and the production of reusable sanitary pads.
The initiative also provided dignity kits containing underwear, soap, toothbrushes, and pads. In total, Centre4Teens distributed 4,500 pieces of underwear, 6,000 reusable pads, and 2,000 toothbrushes.
She added, “My own journey and exposure to the realities many girls face inspired me. As someone who is struggling with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and had to go through period poverty as a teenager,
“I saw how lack of access to menstrual health education and products limited opportunities for girls, affecting their dignity, self-esteem, and future. I wanted to break that cycle by creating safe spaces where young girls could access knowledge, support, and tools to manage their health confidently.”
