Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
20
Project title
Anbu Gynaecare
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Anbu Gynaecare transforms agricultural waste into affordable, biodegradable sanitary pads to combat period poverty, reduce plastic pollution and improve menstrual health and dignity for underserved women and girls in Nigeria.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://www.instagram.com/anbugynaecare?srtk=MXZmamFkOHNlb2llNA==
Project Category
My project is an existing project that I started
Project Stage
Growth (We’ve moved past the very first activities and are beginning to have consistent weekly or monthly impact)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
It all began after a school visit for a group project that my co-founders, Sussan, Winner, Amadi and I, were working on. As we discussed menstrual health with the students, we discovered many of the young girls struggled to afford sanitary pads, with some facing difficult choices that affected their hygiene and school experience. After the visit, Sussan shared how many students in her hostel also struggled to afford pads consistently. We realised that menstruation, a natural part of life, had become a financial burden for many. We decided to investigate further, with Sussan and Winner gathering more data to validate the problem while Amadi and I explored possible solutions. Our aha moment came when we discovered Saathi, an Indian company making biodegradable sanitary pads from banana fibre. It made us see the problem differently. Further research revealed that banana and plantain pseudostems, often discarded after harvest, were abundant locally and could provide a potential raw material. Suddenly, two challenges became one opportunity: improving access to menstrual products while finding value in agricultural waste. We realised we could explore a solution that addressed both period poverty and environmental pollution. That insight became the foundation of Anbu Gynaecare.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Period poverty remains a challenge in Nigeria, where many women and girls cannot consistently access sanitary pads because of their cost. When pads are unaffordable, girls resort to unhealthy alternatives or miss school, compromising their menstrual hygiene, dignity and education. Nigeria’s dependence on imported menstrual products further compounds the problem, as currency depreciation and rising import costs contribute to increasing prices. The environmental impact presents another concern. Many conventional sanitary pads contain plastic-based materials that take years to decompose and contribute to persistent pollution. At the same time, banana and plantain pseudostems, which are abundant in Nigeria, are often discarded or underutilised despite their potential to serve as valuable raw materials. These challenges matter to me for personal reasons. Growing up, I witnessed how poor waste disposal affected my community and contributed to preventable illnesses. I also saw the embarrassment classmates experienced when their clothes became stained during their periods. These experiences exposed me to both the health consequences of environmental neglect and the emotional toll of inadequate menstrual care. To date, these challenges extend far beyond my immediate environment and affect millions of people across Nigeria. This is why this project matters dearly.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
We transform discarded banana and plantain pseudostems into biodegradable sanitary pads. Our process begins with collecting the pseudostems, extracting their fibres using decorticators and other specialised tools, and processing them into the absorbent core of our pads. We then combine this core with suitable top sheet and back layers to create a functional sanitary pad that provides effective absorption, comfort and protection. Presently, we are developing and refining our prototypes to achieve the right balance of absorbency, softness, leak protection and durability. Through product testing, we aim to assess the performance of the pads, improve the design and ensure the materials are safe for menstrual use. We are also evaluating the biodegradability of our prototypes and exploring production methods that will keep costs low without compromising quality. Our solution addresses three connected challenges. First, it offers a potential lower-cost menstrual product by using locally available raw materials and reducing dependence on imported inputs. Second, it provides an alternative to conventional pads that contain plastic-based materials and contribute to long-lasting waste. Third, it creates value from pseudostems that would otherwise be discarded. By developing a product from agricultural waste available within Nigeria, we aim to build a locally driven production process that can make menstrual hygiene products more accessible to women and girls while supporting environmental sustainability.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Anbu Gynaecare has impacted over 200 people through school and community engagements focused on menstrual health education, hygiene and challenging period stigma. These conversations have created safer spaces for girls to ask questions, share concerns and rethink the shame often associated with menstruation. We have seen shifts in the attitudes of girls we’ve engaged, reinforcing our belief that education is an important first step towards change. Furthermore, we have developed some prototypes of our biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana pseudostem fibres, and received feedback to guide further improvements, which we are currently working on. We believe our solution can work because menstrual product affordability remains a huge challenge, banana and plantain pseudostems are readily available in Nigeria and similar banana-fibre technology has been explored commercially in India. By adapting this approach to local resources and needs, we hope to create a practical, scalable alternative. Our long-term impact will include improving access to menstrual products, reducing period-related embarrassment and school absences, challenging menstrual stigma and creating value from agricultural waste. As we refine our product, we will measure progress through user feedback, affordability, the amount of agricultural waste utilised and the number of women and girls reached.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
Anbu Gynaecare is reimagining menstrual care and innovation in Nigeria. Unlike conventional pads that are non-biodegradable and mostly contain plastic-based materials, Anbu pads are designed to offer a more environmentally friendly alternative without compromising on comfort, safety or affordability. Our innovation goes beyond biodegradability. We are adapting banana-fibre technology to Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, where banana and plantain pseudostems are readily available but largely underutilised. By sourcing these materials locally, our goal is to reduce dependence on imported raw materials, lower production costs and make sustainable menstrual care more accessible to women and girls. We also see an opportunity to build a value chain around agricultural waste. From collecting discarded pseudostems to processing their fibres and manufacturing sanitary pads, our model could create income-generating opportunities for local farmers, waste collectors and processors while supporting local production. What makes Anbu different is the way we connect menstrual health, environmental sustainability and local economic opportunity in one solution. We are not simply creating another sanitary pad; we are exploring how a product used by millions of women can be made differently, using resources already available around us.
How many people are on your team?
4
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Anbu Gynaecare has four co-founders: Michael, Amadi, Sussan and Winner. Michael leads strategy, technology and pitching; Amadi leads research and product development; Sussan focuses on quality assurance and testing while Winner leads surveys and user research. We share leadership by taking ownership of our respective areas, collaborating on key decisions and combining our strengths to build a solution that meets the needs of Nigerian women and girls.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
We are currently refining our existing prototypes and incorporating feedback to improve the quality of our biodegradable sanitary pads. By the end of the first quarter of 2027, we aim to complete this refinement and testing phase, with a clearer understanding of the production process, material requirements and costs. Throughout the year, we will focus on preparing Anbu Gynaecare for commercial launch. This includes meeting relevant safety and regulatory requirements, improving production efficiency and establishing a reliable supply chain for our raw materials. We will also build partnerships with local and commercial farmers to secure and process banana and plantain pseudostems in large quantities. We will also pursue funding, technical expertise and strategic partnerships throughout our development journey. Support from research institutions and product development experts will help strengthen our product, while partnerships with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and menstrual health organisations will help us scale production and reach more women and girls. Alongside product development, we will continue our menstrual health education and community engagement to challenge period stigma and build awareness of sustainable menstrual care. By the end of 2027, our goal is to have affordable Anbu pads commercially available on shelves in markets and stores.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
I believe people join a cause when they understand the problem, believe in the solution and feel that their contribution matters. With Anbu Gynaecare, about 200 people have engaged with our outreach and awareness activities, and 20 people have voluntarily contributed to our project. Some have helped us prepare for pitches, while others have supported prototype development, contributed to our outreaches and supported other aspects of the project. I invite people to contribute by being honest about our goals, our challenges and what we need help with. As a leader, I make room for team members to contribute ideas, acknowledge their efforts and correct mistakes with kindness. I also welcome corrections from others because I believe changemaking requires everyone to learn and grow together. Outsid Anbu, I already run a community of over 500 students where I share academic tips, learning resources, scholarships and other opportunities whenever I find them. If I were to start another project, I would draw on this community to spread awareness, gather ideas and invite students to contribute their skills. I always encourage them to think circularly, look beyond problems to the resources around them and see themselves as capable of creating change. I also make myself available to offer guidance and honest feedback at all times.
