Pad-Up Creations Limited, a Nigerian manufacturer of reusable sanitary pads, baby nappies and undergarments, has revealed that its Micro Sales Agents programme is helping women in internally displaced persons camps across Nigeria to earn an income and support their families.
The disclosure was made in a statement on Thursday by the Chief Executive Officer of Pad-Up Creations Limited, Olivia Onyemaobi, who explained that the company’s empowerment initiative enables women to start small businesses without needing to provide upfront capital.
According to Onyemaobi, each participant in the programme is provided with a starter kit worth N55,000 on credit, allowing them to begin selling Pad-Up’s products in their communities.
“With the micro sales agents, we are empowering girls and women because we realised that many women, due to the economic situation in Nigeria, cannot even afford to support their families,” she said.
She noted that the goal of the initiative goes beyond creating income opportunities, stating that the programme is also designed to address the widespread lack of access to affordable hygiene products among women and girls in rural and underserved areas.
“The truth is, it’s not just about economic empowerment. There are communities where girls are struggling to access basic sanitary products. We use these women to bring our products closer to them,” she added.
The company said it had observed high demand for reusable sanitary pads and baby nappies in IDP camps, where women often have limited access to essential hygiene items.
By engaging women within these camps as sales agents, Pad-Up is not only making its products more accessible but also creating sustainable sources of income for the displaced.
“The last time I went into one of the IDP camps, they were bringing out their money to buy reusable baby nappies and asking when next we would come. Who says they don’t want comfort or cleanliness?” Mrs Onyemaobi stated.
“These are people we actually want to empower. Imagine that we give a woman there a starter kit, and she begins selling to other women in the camp instead of them waiting for our next visit,” she added.
The Micro Sales Agents model operates on a simple structure. Women receive the kits on credit, sell the products in their locality, remit the funds to Pad-Up, and retain the profit margin. Those who consistently meet their payment obligations are given more products, enabling them to gradually scale their businesses.
The CEO said the initiative had already empowered more than 3,000 women and girls in various communities across Nigeria. In total, over 1,000 starter kits amounting to more than N55m have been distributed under the scheme.
The programme has also made a significant difference in the lives of women facing difficult circumstances. Onyemaobi shared the story of a woman in a violent marriage who was forbidden by her husband from working outside the home. Through the Micro Sales Agents programme, she was able to discreetly sell products from her home and earn an income.
“She’s not alone. Many women, especially in Northern Nigeria, are silently battling financial dependency due to marital or cultural constraints. This programme gives them a chance to stand on their own feet,” she said.
In February 2025, Pad-Up extended the programme to Ghana. At the Prampram Technical Institute, the company trained young women and girls on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and entrepreneurship. As part of the launch, Pad-Up also donated 1,500 sanitary pads to schoolgirls to promote menstrual health awareness.
According to the company, the programme is structured around three pillars: character, capacity, and capital. Agents are trained in financial discipline, customer trust-building, and strategies to grow demand within their localities.
While acknowledging that some women default on repayments or misuse the opportunity, Onyemaobi said the company focuses on the many success stories, including agents who have grown their turnover to as much as N600,000 from humble beginnings.
“It’s not perfect. Some people fail, but we focus on those who succeed. When we see their success stories, it pushes us to keep going,” she added.
Through the Micro Sales Agents initiative, Pad-Up Creations Limited is showing how a socially responsible business model can drive real impact by improving hygiene access, supporting livelihoods, and giving displaced and vulnerable women a chance to rebuild their lives through dignified work.
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