Health
When Periods Keep Girls Out of School: Breaking the Silence on Menstrual Hygiene in Nigeria
By Caroline Ameh
On the sunny, dusty road of Yakawada in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, 15-year-old Maryam often walks to school with laughter in her voice and dust on her sandals. But behind her cheer lies a struggle that many girls like her endure quietly, every month.
“I noticed that when I turned 13 something strange happened to me.
Her mother explained that it was menstruation, a natural sign of womanhood. Yet, what should have been a milestone of maturity became a source of anxiety.
“I sometimes wish there was nothing like menstruation,” Maryam admits, her voice trailing off. “The stress I go through whenever it comes is too much. Most times, getting water to wash and buying sanitary pads discourages me from going to school.”
A Silent Barrier to Education
Maryam’s story mirrors that of Helen, a 16-year-old from Ogam in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. For Helen, her monthly period means missing several days of school at a time.
“I stay back because I fear being mocked if I stain my uniform. Pads are expensive and when I can’t afford them, I use pieces of cloth. Sometimes, I have infections and it makes me very uncomfortable,” Helen explains.
For both girls, menstruation is more than a biological change, it is a barrier to education.
Across Nigeria, thousands of adolescent girls face similar challenges, often forced to miss school during their periods due to inadequate access to sanitary pads, lack of clean water, and absence of private toilets in schools.
A 2022 UNICEF report estimates that one in ten African girls misses school during menstruation, and in Nigeria, studies show that many girls lose 20% of school time annually because of period-related challenges. Some eventually drop out entirely.
The High Cost of Period Poverty
The term period poverty describes the inability to afford menstrual products or access safe sanitation. In Nigeria, where nearly half of the population lives in poverty, sanitary pads remain a luxury for many families. A pack costs between ₦500 and ₦2,500 and it’s out of reach for households struggling to feed their children.
Instead, girls resort to rags, toilet paper, or improvised materials that are neither safe nor hygienic. The risks are serious: urinary tract infections, reproductive health issues, and lasting psychological trauma from shame or stigma.
Earlier this year, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) drew attention to the issue through its National Chairperson, Aisha Ibrahim, who emphasized that, “If a girl misses a week of school every month due to menstruation, she is automatically disadvantaged compared to her male peers. Menstrual health is an education and equality issue, not just a health issue.”
More Than Just Pads: The Sanitation Crisis
Even when pads are available, another hurdle remains water and sanitation. In many rural schools, there are no gender-segregated toilets, no running water, and no safe spaces for girls to manage their periods with dignity.
“Menstrual hygiene management is not just about providing pads. It’s about ensuring girls have clean water, private toilets, and the right information,” explains Dr. Grace Okonkwo, a public health expert who spoke at a policy dialogue in June. “When these are missing, girls will continue to feel unsafe and embarrassed, and their education suffers.”
Field reports from NGOs confirm that many rural schools in states like Benue, Kaduna, and Adamawa have dilapidated or no toilets at all. Girls are forced to use the bush or unsafe facilities, heightening their risk of infections and gender-based violence.
The Weight of Silence and Stigma
Cultural taboos around menstruation make matters worse. In some communities, menstruating girls are told not to cook, fetch water, or even sit with others. They are taught to keep quiet, perceiving it as shameful or dirty. This silence isolates them and prevents them from seeking support when they face challenges.
At the first ever Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Summit in Abuja in June, one panelist noted that “Menstruation is natural, yet in many Nigerian homes it is spoken of in whispers, if at all. Until we normalize the conversation, girls will continue to feel shame where they should feel pride.”
Community Responses: Small Steps, Big Impact
Some organizations are working to bridge the gap. NGOs in Kaduna and Benue have begun training girls on how to make reusable sanitary pads from safe, washable materials. Others provide dignity kits including pads, soap, and underwear to schools in low-income communities.
“I was happy when they taught us how to make cloth pads,” says Helen. “At least I don’t have to worry every month about money for pads.”
In addition, advocacy groups are pushing for menstrual hygiene education in schools to ensure that both boys and girls understand menstruation. By involving boys, campaigners hope to reduce stigma and bullying that often force girls into silence.
A Call for Policy Action
Advocates argue that Nigeria needs stronger policy commitments to address period poverty. Proposals include reducing or removing taxes on sanitary pads, ensuring every school has gender-friendly toilets, and integrating menstrual health into national health and education programs.
“Government must take menstrual hygiene as seriously as vaccination or malaria prevention,” said one activist at the Abuja dialogue. “When girls drop out because of their periods, the country loses potential doctors, engineers, and leaders.”
Some lawmakers have begun to take notice. In 2023, the House of Representatives debated a motion on free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, though implementation has stalled. Without concrete action, many fear the issue will remain sidelined.
The Human Cost
For Maryam and Helen, the consequences of inaction are personal and immediate. Maryam wants to become a teacher, while Helen dreams of being a nurse. But every month, their education is interrupted, their confidence shaken, and their dreams deferred.
“I want to finish my education and become a nurse,” Helen says softly. “But sometimes, it feels like my period is stronger than my dream.”
The Way Forward
Menstrual health is not just a women’s issue, it is a human rights and development issue. Ensuring that every girl has the resources and dignity to manage her period is essential if Nigeria is to achieve its goals of gender equality and universal education.
Breaking the silence, investing in water and sanitation, subsidizing sanitary pads, and normalizing conversations about menstruation are not optional they are urgent.
Until then, girls like Maryam and Helen will continue to face the monthly choice between their education and the natural process of growing up.
Fast Facts on Period Poverty in Nigeria
1 in 10 African girls misses school during menstruation (UNICEF).
Nigerian girls lose an estimated 20% of their school year to period-related absenteeism.
A pack of sanitary pads costs ₦500–₦1,000, often unaffordable for low-income families.
Over 48 million Nigerian women and girls are of reproductive age, yet millions lack access to safe menstrual products and facilities (UNFPA, 2023).
Only 37% of schools in Nigeria have gender-segregated toilets with clean water (UNICEF WASH report).
Infections from unsafe menstrual practices contribute to reproductive health complications and school dropouts.
