The Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Ebonyi State Chapter, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Ebonyi State, has launched a far-reaching campaign to promote menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls and empower women entrepreneurs in the state.
The event, held at Girls High School Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki, marked the observance of the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, with the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World” and a mission to make menstruation a normal part of life by 2030.
In his address, NASME Ebonyi Chairman, Mr Joseph Ereshi, described the initiative as part of the association’s corporate social responsibility aimed at supporting young girls and amplifying the First Lady’s impactful pet project, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO).
“This program is designed to educate schoolgirls on menstrual hygiene and to introduce them to entrepreneurial thinking. Not every child will find destiny in books alone—skills can shape their future,” Ereshi said.
He extolled Mrs Uzoamaka Mary-Maudline Ogbonnaya-Nwifuru, the First Lady of Ebonyi State, for her numerous health and empowerment interventions targeted at vulnerable groups.
Erish called on the state government to channel MSME funds to genuine entrepreneurs, not political loyalists. “We are serious business people. Many of our members have already accessed Bank of Industry funding, and more are in the process. We need the state’s support to deepen impact, not to enrich social media entrepreneurs,” he stressed
The state Acting Woman Coordinator of NASME, Mrs. Nkechi Gladys Ogbu, highlighted the significance of breaking the cultural silence surrounding menstruation, noting that the day serves as a platform to challenge stigma and improve access to menstrual hygiene resources.
"We must create a world where girls can manage their periods with dignity, without shame, and without missing out on education or opportunities,” she said.
Ogbu also called on the state government to address key challenges facing women entrepreneurs, including establishment of a Women MSMEs Development Centre, easier access to land for women-led businesses, certification and documentation support, appointment of women as heads of industrial sectors, and inclusion in government trade missions and funding programs.
“When you train a woman, you train a nation. Women are the heartbeat of every thriving economy. We ask for meaningful inclusion and targeted support,” she added.
The Principal of Girls High School Abakaliki, Mrs. Ngozi Agboti, expressed gratitude to NASME for the repeated support the school has received over the years, particularly in the area of menstrual hygiene awareness.
"These sensitization efforts have changed the lives of our students. Some who came here ignorant now understand how to care for themselves and even guide others,” she noted.
Representing the Ebonyi State First Lady, Nora Samuel Nweke commended NASME’s initiative and assured participants of her office's continued commitment to improving the welfare of women and children through BERWO and other interventions.
In a heartfelt response, the school’s Senior Prefect, Miss Deborah Oku, thanked the organizers and promised to apply and share the knowledge gained with her peers and community.
The event featured health talks, distribution of menstrual hygiene materials, and a renewed call to normalize menstruation and promote economic inclusion for women and girls across Ebonyi State and beyond.
