As part of efforts to empower young girls and women in Africa, Pad-Up Creations Limited, a Nigerian company manufacturing reusable sanitary pads, baby diapers, and undergarments, has empowered over 3,000 women and girls across local communities through its Micro Sales Agents Programme in three years.
The initiative, which provides women with starter kits valued at N55,000 on credit, allows them to launch small-scale businesses selling Pad-Up’s hygiene products in their neighbourhoods without needing upfront capital.
On the programme’s impact, Pad-Up Creations Limited CEO, Mrs. Olivia Onyemaobi, said it was designed to tackle economic hardship faced by women and girls who struggle to support their families.
“We thought of what we can do to contribute to the economic empowerment of young girls and women,” she said.
Explaining the sales model, she said agents receive products on credit, sell within their communities, remit payments, and keep the profit margin.
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“Successful agents gain access to more products, enabling them to expand their businesses and income streams over time,” she said.
She said the initiative addresses limited access to affordable sanitary products, especially in remote and underserved areas.
Mrs. Onyemaobi noted that the agents bridge this gap by bringing hygiene products closer to communities that need them the most.
Women in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are not left out.
The CEO said their demand for affordable reusable diapers and sanitary pads remains high as Pad-Up Creations is doing everything to ensure that they can participate as sales agents, earning income while supplying essential products to fellow camp residents.
“Encouraged by our success in Nigeria, we expanded the programme to Ghana in February 2025, training women and girls on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and business skills at Prampram Technical Institute.
“We also donated 1,500 sanitary pads to schoolgirls,” Mrs Onyemaobi said.
Mrs. Onyemaobi acknowledged that while not every agent succeeds, the programme has produced success stories of women achieving huge turnovers.
She said Pad-Up remains committed to empowering more women, promoting menstrual health, and ensuring affordable hygiene products reach every community.