Mariya Dauda Kariya is a dynamic social entrepreneur, environmental advocate, and menstrual health activist dedicated to allowing women and girls battle period poverty whilst tackling plastic pollution in Africa. During her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Jigawa State, she served as a Teacher Corps Member at GDJSS (Girls Only) Birnin Kudu, where she witnessed immediate struggles young girls faced due to period poverty. She was a member of the medical CDS group, where they organize several medical outreaches and awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene and sanitation. She also worked as an Enumerator for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSFP), which gave her the opportunity to gain deeper insights into community health and education challenges. She is also serving as a Health Project champion for Nutrition and Climate change Project (Nourish & Encourage project) implemented by Queen Amina Medical Integration Company in collaboration with UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office.
Due to her passion for sustainability and gender equity, Mariya founded Plastics4Pads (P4P), an innovative health social enterprise that allows women to trade all forms of recyclable plastics for eco-friendly reusable sanitary pads. This dual-impact initiative is not only keeping girls in school by providing menstrual hygiene solutions but also reduces plastic waste pollution by incentivizing recycling. Under her leadership, P4P has distributed over 8,000 eco-sanitary pads to underserved girls in Bauchi, conducted menstrual health workshops specifically for young girls, and mobilized communities to collect and recycle plastic waste.
Her work has been recognized for its transformational impact, bridging the gap between environmental conservation and women’s health. Through advocacy, education, and grassroots mobilization, Mariya continues to champion sustainable development, gender equality, and climate action, inspiring a new generation of changemakers across Africa.
Beyond Plastics 4 Pads, she is a health educator, human rights activist, and mentor, committed to creating systemic change. Her vision is to expand Plastics 4 Pad’s reach, influence policy on menstrual health and waste management in Nigeria, and build a future where no girl is held back by her period or environmental neglect. Mariya’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and leadership, a proof to how one individual’s determination can spark a movement for healthier communities and a cleaner planet.
