Land ownership is directly linked to economic empowerment, and economic empowerment plays a crucial role in eliminating period poverty. When women have financial stability, they can afford menstrual hygiene products, access healthcare, and make decisions that positively impact their well-being. However, when women and girls lack land rights, their economic vulnerability increases, deepening the struggle with period poverty.

Here’s how land ownership—or the lack of it—affects period poverty in Nigeria:

1. Financial Independence Means Access to Menstrual Products

Owning land gives women economic power, allowing them to generate income through farming, leasing, or real estate. This income can be used to purchase sanitary pads, and other essential hygiene products.

Impact on Period Poverty:

Women without land or other sources of income often depend on male family members for financial support. If they do not have money, buying menstrual products becomes a low priority compared to food, rent, and other necessities. Many women and girls resort to using old rags, leaves, or toilet paper, which can lead to infections and discomfort.

Example: A study in rural Nigeria found that many women spend less than ₦500 per month on menstrual products, while others cannot afford them at all. Women who own farmland, however, can generate income through crop sales, ensuring they have money for essential needs—including menstrual health products.

2. Land Ownership Gives Women Power to Make Health Decisions

When women own land, they are less dependent on male relatives and have greater control over household decisions, including spending on menstrual health and sanitation.

Impact on Period Poverty:

Many girls and women live in households where men control financial decisions. In some cases, fathers, brothers, or husbands do not prioritize menstrual health and refuse to spend money on sanitary products. Women who own land are more likely to have personal savings and the ability to purchase pads without permission.

Example: In communities where women’s cooperatives own farmland, members often pool money to provide free sanitary products for young girls, helping to fight period poverty in schools.

3. Women Farmers Without Land Ownership Struggle to Afford Period Products

In Nigeria, 70% of small-scale farmers are women, yet they own less than 15% of farmland. Many women farm on land owned by men, meaning they have to give up a percentage of their earnings to landowners. This leaves them with less income to support themselves and their daughters.

Impact on Period Poverty:

Without land ownership, many women farmers live on daily wages, which often go towards feeding their families rather than buying menstrual products.

Example: In Benue State, female farmers who work on rented land report that they cannot afford sanitary pads, forcing them to use unsanitary materials during their periods.

4. Lack of Land Ownership Contributes to Displacement and Poor Sanitation

Women who do not own land are more likely to be displaced—whether through forced evictions, widowhood, or economic hardship. This often leads to homelessness, migration, or dependence on relatives, limiting their access to clean water, toilets, and menstrual hygiene facilities.

Impact on Period Poverty:

Lack of sanitation is one of the biggest contributors to poor menstrual health. Women and girls living in slums, refugee camps, or unstable housing often lack:

• Access to private toilets for changing pads.
• Safe disposal bins for used sanitary products.
• Clean water for washing reusable pads or menstrual cups.

Example: In Lagos slums, thousands of displaced women struggle to manage their periods hygienically because public toilets charge fees, making them inaccessible to those without steady income.

5. Land Ownership Could Help Solve Period Poverty Through Sustainable Initiatives

If women had equal land rights, they could use their land to support menstrual health initiatives. Land ownership enables women to:

Establish community-run pad production businesses, reducing the cost of menstrual products.

Set up local farming projects to grow organic cotton for reusable pads.

Build safe menstrual hygiene facilities in schools and public areas.

Example: In Ekiti State, a women-led agricultural cooperative has started growing cotton and producing affordable reusable pads for rural communities. This project is helping to end period poverty while creating jobs for women.

Conclusion

When women have economic independence, they can take care of their menstrual health without relying on others. Owning land is a key factor in breaking the cycle of period poverty, as it provides the financial resources and stability needed to afford sanitary products, healthcare, and hygiene facilities.

By advocating for equal land rights, we are not just fighting for gender equality, we are also empowering women and girls to manage their periods with dignity.

What Can We Do?

Support policies that give women equal land ownership rights.

Invest in women-led agricultural and menstrual health projects.

Advocate for free sanitary products in schools and workplaces.

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