Struggles of Nigerian Girls Missing School Over Lack of Sanitary Pads
By Abdulsalam Mahmud,
In a classroom in Bwari, an area council in Abuja, Maryam sits quietly at her desk, trying to ignore the dull cramps in her stomach. She is only fourteen, but every month, when her period comes, she misses at least three days of school.
Her family cannot afford sanitary pads, and so she stays home, ashamed and anxious, waiting for her bleeding days to pass before returning to class. Her story is not unusual—it reflects the hidden reality of thousands of schoolgirls across Nigeria.
This struggle, known as period poverty, is more than a health or hygiene issue. It is an education crisis, a gender equality concern, and a human rights question that silently robs Nigerian girls of their future.
The Numbers Behind the Struggle
According to UNICEF, over 25 percent of Nigerian schoolgirls miss school during their menstrual periods due to lack of sanitary products or proper hygiene facilities. In rural communities, where poverty is widespread, this figure is often higher.
The World Bank estimates that nearly 37 million Nigerian women and girls of reproductive age face difficulties accessing safe menstrual products, either because they are unaffordable or unavailable in local markets.
The result is predictable: absenteeism, poor academic performance, and eventual school dropouts. A girl who consistently misses three to five school days every month loses almost two months of learning each year. Over time, this gap becomes impossible to close, pushing girls further behind their male peers.
Poverty, Stigma and Silence
The root of the problem lies in poverty. A pack of disposable pads costs between N1,500 and N1,700, a price many families, in Nigeria’ prevailing economic hardship, cannot prioritize. Girls resort to rags, old newspapers, or even leaves, which are unsafe and unhygienic.
Yet poverty is only part of the issue. Cultural taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation make it difficult for girls to talk about their needs. In many communities, menstruation is considered unclean, a subject that should be hidden. Girls are taught to keep silent, reinforcing shame and secrecy.
This silence extends to schools. Many lack private toilets, running water, or disposal systems, making it nearly impossible for girls to stay in class during their periods.
The Health Risks
The consequences are not only educational but also medical. Using unsafe materials during menstruation exposes girls to urinary tract infections, reproductive health complications, and long-term risks. A lack of awareness about menstrual hygiene management compounds the problem. In some cases, girls miss out on accurate information about their own bodies, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation and fear.
Global Lessons, Local Realities
Around the world, governments are beginning to confront period poverty. In Kenya, free sanitary pads have been distributed to schoolgirls since 2017, significantly reducing absenteeism. Scotland went further in 2020, becoming the first country to make sanitary products freely available to all women and girls.
Nigeria, however, has been slow to follow suit. Some state governments and NGOs have piloted pad distribution programs, but these efforts remain sporadic and unsustained. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has at times spoken about tackling menstrual hygiene, but speeches alone are not enough. Structured policies, sustained funding, and grassroots implementation are urgently needed.
Period Poverty as an Educational Barrier
Education experts warn that period poverty significantly contributes to Nigeria’s already high rate of out-of-school children. UNESCO reports that one in five Nigerian children is out of school, with girls disproportionately affected.
The inability to manage menstruation with dignity adds another layer to the barriers girls face, alongside child marriage, insecurity, and economic hardship. Teachers also feel the impact. A school principal in Nasarawa State shared that she regularly sees girls missing exams or critical lessons because of their periods.
“Some girls just disappear from school for a week,” she said. “They come back ashamed, trying to catch up. Many eventually give up.”
The Way Forward
Addressing period poverty requires a multi-pronged response. Access to affordable sanitary products must be expanded, with local production of reusable pads supported by government incentives. Menstrual hygiene education should be mainstreamed into school curricula to normalize conversations and break the silence.
Schools must be equipped with gender-friendly toilets, running water, and disposal systems that allow girls to manage their periods with dignity.
Most importantly, the government must recognize period poverty as an educational crisis. Providing sanitary products is not charity—it is an investment in Nigeria’s human capital. Every girl who drops out of school due to period poverty represents a lost opportunity for the country’s future.
A Silent Struggle That Should Not Be Silent
Maryam’s story, like that of thousands of others, should never be reduced to silence. Menstruation is not a shameful secret but a natural biological process. Until Nigeria confronts period poverty with the seriousness it deserves, countless girls will continue to miss classrooms, dreams, and futures—all because of something as natural as their monthly cycle.
The silence must end. Pads must become affordable. Schools must open their doors with dignity. And Nigeria must treat the menstrual health of its girls not as a side issue, but as a cornerstone of its education and equality agenda.
Mahmud is a passionate health writer, who can be reached at: [email protected]