Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson Okojie has come under heavy criticism on social media after being unveiled as a brand ambassador for Girls Tag, a menstrual care brand reportedly selling for N25,000.
Girls Tag, described as an all-in-one period care pack for girls aged nine and above, recently launched with Mercy Johnson and her daughter, Purity Okojie, as ambassadors. Actress Regina Daniels was later announced as another face of the brand.
However, the product’s price has triggered widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians describing it as insensitive and unrealistic amid rising economic hardship and the growing struggle among women and girls to afford basic sanitary products.
Reacting to the controversy, an X user, Lai, defended the actress and the company, arguing that the product was not targeted at average Nigerians.
“Not everyone is a philanthropist. Nigeria’s problems are not everybody’s problem. She knows who her customers are. This is business,” the user wrote.
Another user, Ms. Jorji, slammed the actress, saying, “Mercy Johnson, you are an embarrassment to women. In a country where women are struggling to afford sanitary pads, you want to charge N25k for sanitary pads.”
A user identified as A Tall Edo Girl mocked the product’s target market, writing, “The target audience had to be baddies.”
Rebekah also criticized the pricing, saying sanitary products should not be treated as luxury items.
“Nigeria is a poor country. Elitism should never extend to the basic rights and dignity of girls and women. How many Nigerians can realistically afford N25k monthly for a basic necessity?” she asked.
Another critic, Ara, faulted those defending the brand, insisting sanitary pads should be affordable and accessible to all women.
“The way some of you defend celebrities is annoying. In a country where sanitary pads are meant to be free, someone is selling them for N25k, and people are saying the packaging is worth it,” the user wrote.
Matt also questioned the pricing, saying sanitary pads should be regarded as a basic necessity.
“To be honest, sanitary pads shouldn’t cost this much. It should be a basic amenity just like food,” he stated.
Okafor Gift simply queried, “Selling pads for N25k? As how?”
Another user, Olaámi, accused celebrities of prioritizing profit over social responsibility.
“Majority of Nigerian celebrities don’t actually stand for anything; all they care about is their bottom line,” the user wrote.
