By Sharon Nene Akuboh
As Association Celebrates 37 Years, Three State Chapters to Lead Sanitary Pad Outreach to Schoolgirls
Thirty-seven years after women journalists came together to establish a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and advancing the interests of society, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) is choosing to mark its 37th anniversary with an intervention that speaks directly to the dignity, education and wellbeing of the girl-child.
As NAWOJ prepares to commemorate 37 years of existence on September 29, 2026, the Association is putting menstrual hygiene at the centre of its anniversary message, with three state chapters selected to lead a sanitary-pad distribution initiative and education for schoolgirls.
“No girl should seat at Home when they should be in School on account of Menstruation” says Hajia Aisha Ibrahim the NAWOJ National Chairperson.
Rather than organising a separate national anniversary ceremony amid a demanding calendar of activities and prevailing financial constraints, the NAWOJ National Secretariat has elected to make its 37th anniversary a celebration of service, compassion and measurable impact.
“Under the initiative, NAWOJ Chapters in Akwa Ibom, Katsina and Osun States will each receive ₦100,000 from the National Secretariat to purchase sanitary pads and distribute them to girls in a school of their choice” according to the National Chairperson NAWOJ.
The intervention may appear modest in financial terms, but its significance goes beyond the value of the sanitary products. It draws attention to an issue that affects the everyday lives of millions of girls and women: the ability to manage menstruation with dignity, safety and confidence.
For a schoolgirl, access to sanitary products can mean the difference between remaining in the classroom during her menstrual period and missing school because she does not have the materials she needs.
It is this reality that gives NAWOJ’s anniversary initiative a deeper meaning. The Association is demonstrating that the work of women journalists does not end with reporting issues affecting society. Journalism can also provide a platform for advocacy, public awareness and practical interventions that touch lives.
A CELEBRATION BEYOND CEREMONIES
For NAWOJ, the decision to channel its anniversary into an intervention reflects a broader understanding of what it means to celebrate an institution that has existed for 37 years.
The Association acknowledged that the forthcoming National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting in Kebbi State and the National Delegates Conference, among other national commitments, require attention and resources.
Consequently, the National Secretariat decided against holding a separate national anniversary ceremony at this time.
But rather than allowing the milestone to pass quietly, the leadership has chosen to make the anniversary a reminder that celebration is most meaningful when it produces impact.
And menstrual hygiene provides a powerful avenue through which that philosophy can be expressed.
By supporting the purchase and distribution of sanitary pads, NAWOJ is bringing the conversation about menstrual health closer to the school environment, where girls can be encouraged to approach menstruation without shame, stigma or unnecessary disruption to their education.
The initiative also reinforces the responsibility of women journalists to remain connected to issues affecting women and girls across the country.
THE GIRL-CHILD AT THE HEART OF THE MESSAGE
Menstruation is a normal biological process, yet for many girls, especially those from financially constrained households, managing their monthly period can present significant challenges.
The cost and availability of menstrual products can affect how confidently a girl participates in school activities and her daily life.
NAWOJ’s initiative therefore places an important social issue within the spotlight of its 37th anniversary.
Through the selected chapters, the Association intends to take sanitary products directly to schoolgirls while using the opportunity to promote awareness around menstrual hygiene and dignity.
The project also creates an opportunity for NAWOJ members to engage schools and communities beyond their traditional journalistic assignments.
It is a practical expression of advocacy—one that connects the microphone, notebook, camera and newsroom to the everyday experiences of young girls.
37 YEARS OF FINDING A VOICE
Since its establishment on September 29, 1989, NAWOJ has grown into a national platform for women journalists, providing a collective voice through which issues affecting women, children and society can receive greater attention.
At 37, the Association is looking back at a journey marked by courage, resilience, advocacy and service.
The anniversary is also an opportunity to honour the pioneering women who laid the foundation for the organisation and the generations of women journalists who have carried the NAWOJ torch across the country.
From the 36 states to the Federal Capital Territory, members continue to contribute to the strength and visibility of the Association.
Their work demonstrates that the relevance of NAWOJ is not measured solely by the number of years it has existed, but also by how effectively its members use journalism to contribute to conversations that matter.
This year’s anniversary intervention is therefore both symbolic and practical.
It says that while NAWOJ celebrates its history, it also recognises the challenges confronting today’s generation of women and girls.
FROM REPORTING STORIES TO CREATING IMPACT
For women journalists, the menstrual hygiene campaign presents another opportunity to tell stories that are sometimes overlooked.
The subject can open conversations about dignity, education, poverty, health awareness, school attendance and the experiences of adolescent girls.
More importantly, it demonstrates the potential of journalism organisations to move from merely reporting social challenges to supporting initiatives that encourage positive change.
The ₦100,000 allocation to each of the three participating chapters may not address every challenge associated with menstrual hygiene, but NAWOJ’s leadership views the intervention as a meaningful starting point.
It is a reminder that impactful change can begin with a simple gesture: ensuring that a girl has access to the basic menstrual products she needs.
LOOKING BEYOND 37
As NAWOJ enters another year, the Association says its commitment remains focused on strengthening the organisation, promoting the dignity and welfare of women journalists, amplifying the voices of women and girls and using journalism to contribute to a better society.
The 37th anniversary therefore becomes more than a commemoration of an establishment date.
It becomes an opportunity to ask what the Association can do with the voice it has built over nearly four decades.
For the girls who will receive sanitary pads through the initiative in Akwa Ibom, Katsina and Osun, NAWOJ’s 37th anniversary could become more than a date on the calendar.
It could become a moment when journalism translated into something tangible.
A sanitary pad may appear simple, but for a schoolgirl who needs one, it can represent dignity, confidence, participation and the freedom to remain focused on her education.
And that is perhaps the strongest message NAWOJ is sending as it marks 37 years: the true measure of an institution is not only how long it has existed, but how many lives its voice can touch.
37 YEARS. ONE VOICE. A LEGACY OF IMPACT.
NAWOJ @ 37 is a celebration of the women who came before, the women carrying the torch today and the girls whose voices the Association hopes to amplify tomorrow.
It is 37 years of finding a voice, using that voice and making that voice count.
And this year, that voice is speaking loudly for menstrual dignity and the girl-child.
Happy 37th Anniversary in advance to the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
Dignity in Service.
This was contained in a statement signed by Hajia Aishatu Ibrahim, the National Chairperson, NAWOJ and Comrade Wasilah I. Ladan, NAWOJ National Secretary
Weekenders Magazine Management and Editorial Team congratulates the Leadership of NAWOJ ably led by Hajia Aishatu Ibrahim who has ensured absolute Peace all through this first tenure and we recommend her to NAWOJians for a second term to conclude the great work she has started.