How PadBank is Using Technology to Fight Against Period Poverty

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

In a world where millions of girls and women still face barriers in managing their periods with dignity, innovation and empathy must lead the way. That’s exactly what PadBank, an initiative of the Nathaniel Albert Foundation, is doing.

Officially founded in 2020 by Oluwakemi Adesina, who is a three times ambassador to THEPADPROJECT, the foundation began by tackling period poverty through direct distribution of menstrual products and menstrual hygiene education. From classrooms to communities, thousands of girls and women were trained on how to manage their periods safely and hygienically, while boys were included in awareness sessions to challenge and end period stigma.

After years of running these impactful but one-off outreach events across schools, Oluwakemi and her team recognized a deeper need: sustainability and consistency. Periods don’t stop, so neither should access to menstrual care.

“In response, we launched the first Pad Bank located in Arikanki village in Oyo state, a free access point where girls could pick up menstrual products monthly, at no cost. This model brought structure and reliability to our mission, allowing girls to plan for their periods rather than fear them and presently serves over 10 villages and communities with over 100,000 menstrual products distributed,” Oluwakemi explained.

She continued, “the real transformation came in 2025 in tune with the menstrual hygiene day theme – together for a period friendly world – PadBank infused technology into its process by introducing the Pad Bank Gift Card, a scannable digital card that allows registered girls and women to tap and collect their monthly menstrual products seamlessly.”
This innovation isn’t just about convenience. It’s a game-changer in the fight against period poverty. In terms of accountability and transparency, each card tracks how many products are distributed, helping the organization stay accountable to donors and the public.
The new system helps curb loss or misuse of supplies, while digital records provide insights into distribution trends, needs by location, and help plan future outreach more effectively. With the card, girls feel empowered, not pitied and the technology helps PadBank to scale its reach to more communities, schools, and regions with ease.

PadBank is not just distributing sanitary pads; it’s building a movement rooted in dignity, education, and sustainability. By using technology to modernize access, PadBank is setting the pace where innovation meets compassion.

As the initiative continues to grow, one tap at a time, girls across Nigeria are gaining not just products but the power to show up in school, in life, and in society without shame.