15% of Nigerian teenage girls are mothers or pregnant – FG reveals

The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that 15% of teenage girls aged 15 to 19 in the country are either mothers or pregnant. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this information during the validation and adoption of Nigeria's first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM).

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Maryam Keshinro, highlighted that millions of adolescent girls and women in Nigeria suffer from undernutrition, with 55% affected by anaemia, partly due to poor menstrual hygiene and lack of access to affordable sanitary products. The new policy aims to address these issues and remove the stigma surrounding menstruation.

President Bola Tinubu's decision to approve a waiver on sanitary towels was commended for reflecting sensitivity to gender and public health concerns. Women aged 15 to 49 make up 25-30% of Nigeria's population, making it crucial to ensure that menstruation does.