They say you don’t step into change unless you believe you belong in the story. On October 11, 2025, The International Day of the Girl Child , SDGforHer Initiative is inviting everyone to step into a conversation too many have been afraid to start. “Breaking the Silence: Menstrual Health, Dignity & Girls’ Futures in Africa” is more than a title. It’s the push we need to transform lives. In many parts of Africa, menstruation is still shrouded in shame, suspicion and the heavy weight of silence. Girls skip school. They drop out. Their potential is quietly capped by lack of products, stigma and misinformation. Yet today, we choose to bring that silence into the light.

At our inaugural SDGforHer Dialogue, we won’t lecture. We won’t simply present. We will engage in honest, courageous conversation. Through Q&A, lived experience and cross-sector insight, we will ask hard questions, unpack assumptions and humbly explore paths toward change. We are honoured to welcome voices already working on the frontlines:

• Inya Ajanak, Co-Founder of Aya Pad, bringing innovation and access to menstrual products
• Motunrayo Esther Esan, founder of The EME Foundation, bridging advocacy, stigma-breaking, and education
• Dr. Ribadu Amaru, pediatrician and gynecologist, founder of HopeforHer Foundation, speaking to clinical realities
• Lola Falana, founder of DearAmbitiousGirl (subject to confirmation), bringing the storytelling lens that invigorates this work

We’ll discuss Nigeria’s new menstrual health policy, a true milestone, but also explore how policies must be paired with genuine support, dignity and infrastructure so girls are never left behind.

By joining this dialogue, you’re not just listening! You’re becoming part of the answer. You’re helping to shape a future where menstruation is understood, supported, and no longer a barrier to a girl’s dreams.

Will you be in that room? Because her future depends on it, and so does ours.