… Foundation unveils upgraded website, plans international menopause conference in Uyo in 2027
Yunus, Olawale
The President of the Serifat Ajala Menopause Foundation (SAMF), Builder Ishaq Oladele, has called for increased awareness and improved access to healthcare for women experiencing menopause, describing the natural biological transition as neither a disease nor a death sentence.
Oladele made the call at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Menopause Day, observed annually on October 18, under the theme “Menopause: You Are Not Alone.”
He explained that menopause, which generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, can bring symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, joint pains, headaches, reduced libido among other symptoms.
According to him, menopause management is essential to family and societal well-being, as the challenges experienced by women can affect their homes and relationships.
“When a woman is in distress, the home feels it. And when the home is unsettled, the society feels it,” he said, urging families and communities to provide women with adequate emotional and practical support.
Oladele said the foundation had sustained its monthly webinars and participated in medical outreaches, empowerment programmes and public lectures to expand menopause awareness across communities.
He also unveiled the foundation’s upgraded website, www.sherrymenopause.org, which is intended to provide information about menopause, the organisation’s activities and its network of healthcare partners.
Addressing concerns about access to medical services, particularly for rural women and low-income households, he said the foundation was working with healthcare facilities, including the National Hospital, Abuja, and other medical partners, to help women access appropriate support. He stressed the need to reach women who lack internet access or digital devices.
The SAMF president, however, identified inadequate funding as a major challenge to the foundation’s operations. He disclosed that the organisation launched its flagship Menopause Magazine in 2025 but had been unable to produce subsequent editions because of financial and production constraints.
He appealed to individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support the foundation financially and promote its awareness initiatives.
Oladele further disclosed that SAMF had representation in approximately 25 states across Nigeria, with plans to expand its reach nationally and internationally.
As part of its expansion strategy, he announced plans to transform the annual World Menopause Day programme into an international conference on menopause management beginning in 2027, with the Akwa Ibom State chapter designated to host the proposed event in Uyo.
He urged Nigerians to treat menopause as a shared social and health concern rather than a subject of silence, calling on men, families, healthcare professionals and community leaders to help women navigate the transition with dignity and support.
“Menopause is not a death warrant. It is a natural phenomenon that we must talk about,” he said.