The Lola Cater Foundation says its menstrual health outreach programmes across the country have exposed gaps in students’ knowledge of menstruation, highlighting the need for better education to address misconceptions and period stigma.
The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Miss Ololade Ogunnubi, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Saturday.
Ogunnubi said the foundation’s school outreaches had revealed worrying misconceptions about menstruation, particularly among boys.
She recalled that during one visit, a boy described menstruation as a dirty substance that came out of girls every month.
“That response showed us that there was a need to educate boys that menstruation is a natural process and not something dirty.
“We have to explain the mood swings, body changes and pains girls experience during their periods so that boys can understand and support them rather than make fun of them,” she said.
She said educating boys was also important in addressing period shaming, which could make girls uncomfortable and affect their confidence at school.
According to her, some girls also lacked basic knowledge of menstrual hygiene, including how often sanitary pads should be changed.
“Some girls thought they could use one sanitary pad throughout the day. We had to educate them on proper hygiene practices and how to take care of themselves during menstruation,” she said.
Ogunnubi cited inadequate funding, limited access to menstrual products and cultural misconceptions as factors that often leave girls in underserved communities without proper menstrual health information and hygiene kits.
She said volunteers and menstrual health ambassadors had been instrumental in taking awareness campaigns to different communities.
Over the past six years, the foundation has reached more than 20,000 people in over 15 states through community outreach programmes, school visits and menstrual health campaigns, she said.
The initiative aims to educate girls and boys, as well as women and men, about menstruation and the importance of supporting girls during their periods.
“Girls need to understand their bodies, while boys also need to understand what happens before, during and after menstruation and how they can support the girl child,” she said.
Ogunnubi recalled that the foundation announced on Oct. 28 plans to reach 5,000 girls across Nigeria with menstrual health education, books and hygiene support by May 28, 2027. She said the initiative was part of efforts to bridge the menstrual hygiene knowledge gap and promote girls’ health, confidence and dignity.
She added that the foundation unveiled a book titled My First Period: A Young Girl’s Guide to Confidence, Courage and Growing Up at the “She Is Ready 2026” event in Abuja. The book is designed to give girls essential information about menstruation and puberty, she said.
Ogunnubi commended Softcare, a personal care and hygiene brand, for supporting the event with sanitary pads and wipes for menstrual hygiene kits distributed to participants.
She also thanked the company’s representative, Mr Osasona Dolapo, for travelling from Lagos to Abuja to hand over the donations.
“We are grateful for the company’s support.
“We also appreciate Mr Bamidele Salam, founder of the Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV Africa), for facilitating the book’s unveiling and purchasing 500 copies.
“This is a major contribution towards ensuring that more girls have access to menstrual health information,” she said.
Ogunnubi called for more partnerships and support to extend menstrual health education to girls and women in rural areas, as well as persons with disabilities.
