Minister Of Women Affairs And Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has expressed concern over rising teenage pregnancies in Nigeria, revealing that 15 per cent of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are either pregnant or already mothers.
Speaking at the end of a high-level meeting where Nigeria validated and adopted its first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM), the Minister disclosed that more than 7.3 million adolescent girls and women in the country suffer from undernutrition.
She added that 55 per cent of this group are affected by anaemia, a condition worsened by poor menstrual hygiene practices and the lack of affordable sanitary products.
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Represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Maryam Keshinro, the Minister stressed that President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to grant waivers on sanitary towels reflects his sensitivity to gender and public health challenges.
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She described the newly adopted menstrual health policy as a landmark step towards ensuring that menstruation does not restrict the rights, opportunities, or overall wellbeing of women and girls across the country.
The Minister further highlighted that women aged 15 to 49 years make up about 25 to 30 per cent of Nigeria’s population, emphasizing that menstruation is a natural biological process that must never be associated with stigma, shame, or economic hardship.
Also speaking at the event, the Acting Country Representative of Population Services International (PSI) in Nigeria, Mrs Fifi Ogbondeminu, noted that the policy adoption represents a turning point in addressing menstrual health issues with dignity, empathy, and urgency.
Represented by the Team Lead for Menstrual Health Initiatives at PSI Nigeria, Dr Abdulhameed Adediran, Ogbondeminu described menstrual health as not only a public health issue but also a human rights concern, a gender equality matter, and a critical development priority for Nigeria.
