Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Jayne Augoye
Published on 2024-03-13 13:54:14
On Wednesday, a significant Summit addressing period poverty took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. Organized by Safety For Every Girl (SFEG), the summit was themed “Innovative Solutions to Combat Period Poverty in Nigeria” and coincided with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2024.
Period poverty is a concerning health issue that involves the inaccessibility to menstrual products, education, and sanitation facilities. It also signifies the financial instability that women and girls face due to the high cost of menstrual supplies.
SFEG, a non-governmental organization committed to eradicating period poverty, expressed their delight at hosting Africa’s first-ever Period Summit. The event aimed to address period poverty, initiate crucial conversations, raise awareness, and propose tailored solutions for the Nigerian context.
During the summit, attendees had the opportunity to explore a range of women’s health issues, including menstrual health and the economic consequences of period poverty. The discussions were led by influential voices, including thought leaders, business executives, and gender equality advocates.
Chioma Nwigwe, Founder of SFEG and Convener of the Period Summit, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of period poverty and closing the gap for vulnerable teenage girls and women across Nigeria. She stressed the need for action to ensure better access to menstrual hygiene products and create a new normal for young girls and women, as menstrual health is crucial for overall well-being.
The summit featured a Teens Fireside Chat moderated by Filmmaker & Brand Influencer Alex Unusual and included discussions on “Overcoming Period Stigma – Body Positivity, Self Love & Care” with writer Mojoyinoluwa Adeshina and students from Bright Achievers Secondary School Bariga. Additionally, the summit recognized outstanding submissions from the First-ever SFEG National Essay Competition on the topic of period poverty.
The event also included spoken-word performances, networking opportunities, and musical presentations, such as a saxophone performance by 8-year-old Adewole Nifemi, aka Pink Sax Girl, among other engaging activities.
Safety For Every Girl Foundation remains dedicated to empowering women and girls by hosting pivotal events like the Period Summit and consistently reaching out to challenged communities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Speakers at the summit included renowned personalities such as actor and model Eku Edewor, General Manager HR at Pan African Towers Chisom Ndukwe, Executive Coach Bola Matel-Okoh, and Legal/Compliance Officer at Lukefield Finance Company Ltd.
Other notable speakers included reality TV star Beauty Tukura, public speaker Chinonso Egemba (Aproko Doctor), MD of Pinnacle Medical Services Maymunah Kadiri, and TV presenter Eme Ime Okwoche, among others.
Overall, the Period Summit provided a platform for crucial discussions, awareness-raising, and advocacy to combat period poverty in Nigeria and empower women and girls in the country. Participants and speakers alike shared their insights and experiences to drive positive change and address the challenges faced by those affected by period poverty.
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