The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday, flagged off the distribution of 370,000 sanitary pads worth N2.5 billion to schoolgirls in rural communities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The launch, held at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, was carried out under her Renewed Hope Initiative programme tagged ‘Flow with Confidence’.
Senator Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the intervention was designed to address menstrual health challenges facing young girls in underserved areas.
‘In today’s modern world, no girl should have to miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products. It is unacceptable that our girls still continue to face significant challenges during their menstrual cycle, especially those in rural communities’, she said.
She noted that many girls are forced to use unsafe alternatives or skip school entirely, leading to poor academic performance and, in some cases, school dropouts.
‘We will be distributing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities across the nation. All states and the FCT will receive 10,000 packs each through the state’s first ladies and RHI coordinators. For us at the Renewed Hope Initiative, no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education’, she added.
The distribution was also simultaneously launched in Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi and Lagos states, with other states expected to begin once they receive their supplies.
In his welcome remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Abisola Adegbite, said the programme reflected the First Lady’s concern for the girl-child, especially at the grassroots.
Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, a non-governmental organisation, Hope for Her Foundation, also distributed 2,500 reusable menstrual pads to schoolgirls in Yola-South and Fufore LGAs.
Founder of the NGO, Dr Asmau Ribadu, said the initiative was aimed at keeping girls in school and tackling the stigma and absenteeism linked to menstrual health.
“Most girls that cannot afford pads stop going to school to avoid embarrassment. Poor menstrual health management negatively impacts girls’ education through absenteeism, poor concentration, and reduced participation in class’, Ribadu explained, adding that the reusable pads could last between six months and two years.
Guest speaker at the event, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, commended the foundation for improving girl-child education, while the Adamawa State Chairperson of FIDA, Jamila Babuba, described the NGO as ‘the hope of womanhood in Nigeria’, calling for private sector support to scale up its services nationwide.
