A 15-year-old Nigerian innovator, Raheema Auwal-Panti, is gaining attention for her sustainable approach to menstrual health through a project that combines science, social impact, and environmental care.

Through her initiative, PantiPads, she is transforming agricultural waste materials such as cassava peels, banana leaves, and corn husks into biodegradable sanitary pads. The innovation offers a dual solution to both period poverty and plastic pollution, while providing a more affordable and eco-friendly menstrual care option for girls and women across Nigeria.

Her work highlights how young innovators are increasingly driving practical solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, blending creativity with sustainability and social impact.