In a sobering revelation, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed that 15% of girls aged 15 to 19 are either pregnant or already mothers. The statistic, sourced from UNICEF, was shared during the official validation of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. The Minister emphasized that this figure reflects a growing crisis in adolescent reproductive health and underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions.
She also highlighted that over 7.3 million adolescent girls and women in Nigeria suffer from undernutrition, with 55% affected by anaemia—a condition worsened by poor menstrual hygiene and lack of access to affordable sanitary products. The policy event, attended by key stakeholders, was described as a milestone in addressing menstrual health as a human rights and gender equality issue. The Minister, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Maryam Keshinro, praised recent waivers on sanitary products by President Bola Tinubu as a sign of commitment to gender-sensitive public health reforms.
The announcement has sparked renewed calls for comprehensive sex education, improved access to reproductive health services, and stronger community engagement to combat teenage pregnancy. Advocates argue that without urgent action, these statistics will continue to reflect systemic gaps in Nigeria’s health and education sectors.
