By Catherine Egwuom
Moniepoint Inc. has partnered Sanitary Aid for Nigerian Girls (SANG) , an NGO, to promote menstrual equity and financial literacy among adolescent girls.
The organisations, in commemoration of 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, took the initiative to New Era Girls Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos.
No fewer than 500 students received sanitary kits and menstrual health education aimed at improving hygiene practices and reducing stigma associated with menstruation.
The programme, with the theme, “A Period-Friendly World”, brought together Moniepoint volunteers and facilitators from SANG to educate the girls on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health and financial literacy.
Speaking at the event, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Moniepoint Inc., Ms Edidiong Uwemakpan, said the company’s involvement was driven by its commitment to inclusion and economic empowerment.
Uwemakpan said menstrual poverty remained a significant barrier to education and economic participation for many girls and women.
“Girls who miss school because they menstruate are girls who fall behind.
“Women who carry the stigma and practical burden of unmanaged menstrual health are women whose economic agency is curtailed before it has a chance to develop.
“For us, linking menstrual equity interventions with financial inclusion outreach is a natural pathway to ensuring that our mission of financial happiness reaches every Nigerian,” she said.
According to Uwemakpan, inadequate access to menstrual products and poor menstrual health education have continued to affect the well-being and educational outcomes of millions of girls globally.
She cited studies indicating that many Nigerian girls miss school during menstruation due to lack of sanitary products, poor sanitation facilities and menstrual-related health challenges.
Ms Karo Omu, Founder of SANG, said the organisation had supported no fewer than 80,000 women and girls through the provision of sanitary products and menstrual health education across the country.
Omu said the partnership with Moniepoint reflected a shared commitment to addressing the economic and social consequences of menstrual poverty.
“We serve communities where women’s economic participation is often limited by lack of access to basic menstrual products”.
“By aligning menstrual equity with financial inclusion, we can build a scalable programme that goes beyond product distribution to genuine economic empowerment,” she said.
She added that since its inception, SANG had reached over 53,000 girls and distributed more than 80,000 sanitary pads across 23 states.
The students were also encouraged to embrace personal growth with confidence and not allow biological processes to hinder their aspirations.
Miss Sophia Ukoni, a Volunteer and Market Research Team Lead at Moniepoint, described the outreach as impactful and rewarding.
“It was a fulfilling experience teaching the girls about financial literacy and introducing them to the work we do at Moniepoint.
“I am grateful for opportunities like this to give back, share knowledge and contribute to empowering the next generation of young women,” she said.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually to raise awareness on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, while advocating increased access to menstrual products, education and sanitation facilities for women and girls. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
