News
Menstruation Is Not a Taboo — It’s Time the World Treated It That Way

Menstruation Is Not a Taboo — It’s Time the World Treated It That Way
By: Ann Eyi-ojotule James
Every single day, more than 300 million women and girls around the world are
menstruating. Yet, for something so natural and vital to human reproduction,
menstruation remains cloaked in shame, silence, and stigma, particularly in
many parts of the world where girls are taught to hide, suppress, or be
embarrassed by their monthly flow.
This narrative needs to change. And we must start by calling it what it is: a human rights issue.
On May 28, 2025, in commemoration of Menstrual Health Day, I visited Government Girls Secondary School Wuse, Abuja Nigeria to speak with young girls about menstruation. The stories I heard were heartbreaking and far too common. One girl, looking both nervous and vulnerable, told me she felt ashamed and embarrassed whenever she was on her period. This should never be the case. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Your menstruation is not a curse. It is a sign of your strength and health as a woman. Hold your head high, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
That single moment reminded me why this advocacy matters. For far too long,
society has painted menstruation to be painted as dirty, sinful, or shameful. It
has held girls back from school, from sports, from social life, and, most dangerously, from realizing their full potential.
The Hidden Realities of Period Poverty
An estimated 500 million women and girls globally lack access to basic menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management (MHM). That’s not just a number, it’s a life-altering reality. During one of my menstrual health outreaches, a group of girls told me they
couldn’t dry their reusable sanitary towels outside because it’s considered a
taboo in their community. Imagine being forced to dry your sanitary cloth in
dark, damp places, out of sight, just to avoid judgment. The result? Increased risk of infections, particularly Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), that harm thousands of girls every year simply because they’re not
allowed to hang their laundry in the sun.
This is not just a health crisis. This is a gender inequality crisis.
My advocacy goes beyond distributing sanitary pads — it’s about transforming
mindsets. It’s about affirming to every girl that she matters, not despite her period, but because of it. Her menstruation is not a limitation; it’s a reflection of her strength, resilience, and womanhood. And it doesn’t stop with the girls. We need the boys in this conversation too.
Educating boys and men about menstruation is crucial to breaking the stigma. When we empower communities with accurate information and open
dialogue, we begin to build a world where menstruation is normalized, not
feared or mocked.
The Way Forward: A Call to the Global Community
We must treat menstrual health as a public health priority and a fundamental
human right. It is time for governments, organizations, schools, and families
to come together to:
Increase access to menstrual hygiene products for all girls and women,
especially in low-income and rural areas.
Integrate menstrual education into school curriculums — for both girls
and boys.
Create safe, stigma-free environments where girls can manage their
periods with dignity.
Invest in community outreach that confronts and dismantles harmful
taboos and cultural practices.
Menstruation should not be a barrier to education, health, or dignity. It should
never be a source of shame or silence. It’s time the world recognized that periods are powerful — and so are the girls and women who have them.
Let us stand together — educators, activists, policymakers, parents, and allies
— and build a world where every girl knows: her period is not her weakness. It
is part of her power.
Written By;
Ann Eyi-ojotule James
Founder/E.D: Edureach Africa
edureachafrica1@gmail.co
Menstruation Is Not a Taboo — It’s Time the World Treated It That Way
News
Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA
By: Zagazola Makama
At least three suspected terrorists were neutralised on Sunday following a violent attack on Chediya community in Agarin ward of Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
According to local sources, armed bandits stormed the village in the early hours, opening fire and setting several houses ablaze. The residents, however, mounted stiff resistance, engaging the attackers in a fierce confrontation that resulted in the death of three of the assailants.
While the villagers succeeded in repelling the attackers, the bandits also burned down several homes and forced many families to flee for safety.
“They came heavily armed and started shooting sporadically. Some of our youth confronted them, and in the fight, we managed to kill three of them,” said a resident who asked not to be named for security reasons.
Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA
News
Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), on Monday, called for urgent global action to tackle plastic pollution causing environmental crisis.
APWEN, under its “STEM for All” initiative, North-East zone, made the call, while commemorating the 2025 World Environment Day in Gombe.
Speaking virtually, President of APWEN, Engr. Adebisi Osim, said it is imperative to encourage recycling of plastics, as part of measures to reduce pollution.
Osim noted that the amount of plastics manufactured annually for use had made it necessary for urgent actions to be taken, to ensure a cleaner and safer environment.
“Today’s theme, “End Plastic Pollution” is not just a catchy phrase, It is a wake-up call; a global one and we are answering that call, not with panic, but with STEM-driven solutions and people-centered action.
“According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, and over two-thirds of that becomes waste.
“Alarmingly, less than 10 per cent is recycled, and the rest clogs our drains, litters our streets, chokes our rivers, and poisons marine life.
“Here in Nigeria, the World Bank estimates that Lagos alone generates 13,000 metric tonnes of waste per day, and 15 per cent of that is plastic.
“We see it daily in pure water sachets lining our gutters, single-use bags littering markets, and microplastics infiltrating our food chains,” she said
.
Osim called on stakeholders to invest more in recycling the plastics towards reducing the need for new plastic production, which will in turn lower greenhouse gas emission.
She assured that state chapters are collaborating with young people, to design plastic alternatives, using local materials, and to build waste-sorting systems using simple robotics.
Osim added that the chapters will also explore the conduct of STEM fairs, which are focused on sustainable innovation.
In the same vein, Chairman of the Gombe chapter of APWEN, Engr. Deborah Danladi, urged stakeholders to invest in plastic waste recycling, to save the environment, as well as create jobs and wealth for youths.
Danladi also underscored the need for more action and sensitisation to ensure collective approach to addressing the menace of plastic pollution.
Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution
News
UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs

UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations (UN) agencies in Nigeria have hammered on the need for adequate investment in the development of Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to advance economic growth in the country.
The agencies disclosed this during the commemoration ceremony of the 2025 MSMEs Day on Monday in Abuja.
The event was jointly organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Director, UNIDO Sub-regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Philbert Johnson, who was represented by National Programme Officer at UNIDO, Mr. Reuben Bamidele,, said that MSMEs role in nation building cannot be underestimated, therefore the need for adequate investment to ensure their sustainable growth is of uppermost importance.
Johnson said: “We are gathered together today to discuss proper ways to promote innovation and growth within the MSMEs sector.
“In Nigeria, as we know not less than 40million MSMEs are making huge contribution to the economic growth of the country, by providing employment and serving as means of livelihood for people.
“MSMEs, thereby, contribute to the growth of Gross Domestic Products across sectors of the country’s economy. We gathered to dissect the challenges MSMEs face and also, to work closely together towards achieving sustainable growth.”
The ILO Country Representative, Dr Vanessa Phala, stressed the need for strategic measures to be taken to bolster MSMEs impact on the nation’s economy.
Phala, who was represented by ILO’s National Project Coordinator for the Social Dimension of Ecological Transition, Stephen Agugua, said: “We look at how MSMEs can drive the future of the economy through job creation and employment. When you think of job creation and employment that is where ILO comes in.
“MSMEs are key to the growth of every economic sphere: Through this dialogue platform ILO will know the challenges MSMEs are facing and look at pathways for ensuring sustainable solutions collectively.”
The UNDP Deputy-Director, Ms Varsha Redkar-Palepu, represented the National Programme Specialist and Trade Focal Point at UNDP by Claire Henshaw,, described MSMEs as pivotal to nation building.
She noted that MSMEs form the foundation of inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria, “MSMEs are vital engines for job creation, innovation and social mobilisation, particularly for women and youths. While operating on margins of formal economic systems, we need to put MSMEs at the centre of our development.
“In Nigeria and across Africa, MSMEs holds the key to transforming economic opportunities to meaningful development and the ambition into tangible outcomes,” Phala said.
On his part, Managing-Director of Prohealth, a private organisation, Dr Chinedu Nnabuihe who spoke on behalf of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), commended the UN agencies for putting the event together.
According to him, the event is dedicated to the invaluable role MSMEs play in advancing innovation, creating jobs, increasing inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the country.
“In Nigeria, MSMEs are the engine of our economy, driving local production, supporting livelihood and contributing significantly to national GDPs. This is amidst challenges posed by economic situation, limited access to finance and infrastructure.
“Nigeria MSMEs have continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and determination. At NECA we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an enabling environment in supporting MSMEs development,” Nnabuihe said.
The event attracted stakeholders from Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMEDAN), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigeria Association of of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Others include, National Insurance Commission (NICOM), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
Highpoint of the event was visit by the stakeholders to the exhibition stand of MSMEs, overview of UNDP engagement with MSMEs, government agencies’ engagement with MSMEs and WIP-intellectual property for MSMEs.
End
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