The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has taken a bold step towards addressing menstrual health challenges among school girls through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). On Thursday, she distributed 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to secondary school students in Ekiti State under the initiative tagged “Flow with Confidence.”
The distribution ceremony, which was held in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, attracted top government functionaries, community leaders, education stakeholders, and students from across the three senatorial districts of the state. The initiative, according to Mrs. Tinubu, is aimed at ensuring that no Nigerian girl-child misses school because of her menstrual cycle.
Representing the First Lady at the event was Mrs. Olayemi Oyebanji, wife of Ekiti State Governor, who emphasized that the programme was a nationwide project designed to empower young girls, especially those from rural areas. She explained that it was unacceptable that, in today’s modern world, girls continue to suffer stigmatization and disruption of their education due to lack of access to sanitary products.
Mrs. Tinubu lamented that many schoolgirls, particularly in rural communities, resort to using unsafe and unhygienic alternatives during menstruation, while others are forced to stay at home, missing classes and falling behind in their studies. She stressed that this situation often leads to poor academic performance and in some cases, eventual dropout from school.
“In today’s world, no girl should have to miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products,” Mrs. Tinubu said. “We must put an end to this trend. By providing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads, we are giving our girls the confidence to stay in school and achieve their dreams without interruption.”
The First Lady disclosed that at the end of the ongoing nationwide exercise, over 370,000 schoolgirls across Nigeria’s rural communities would have benefited from the distribution of sanitary pads. This, she explained, falls under the education framework of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which seeks to eradicate barriers to girl-child education.
To ensure accountability and fair distribution, Mrs. Tinubu announced that the project would be executed in partnership with key stakeholders, including wives of local government chairmen, school principals, community leaders, and the Ministry of Education. According to her, wives of state governors will also oversee the process in their respective states to guarantee that each deserving schoolgirl receives a full carton of sanitary pads.
She further cautioned stakeholders against diverting or selling the sanitary pads, urging them to take ownership of the programme and ensure its benefits reach the targeted beneficiaries. “This is about the dignity of our girls and the future of our nation. Everyone must play their role in safeguarding the success of this initiative,” she added.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who was represented at the event by Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, commended the First Lady for her thoughtful intervention. He described the initiative as timely and essential in promoting personal hygiene and boosting the confidence of young girls in the state.
Governor Oyebanji reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting education and the well-being of schoolchildren. He urged students to prioritize their health, especially during menstruation, and assured them of continuous support from the state government to help them achieve their future aspirations.
The students who received the sanitary pads expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her care and support. They pledged to use the pads responsibly and promised to remain focused on their education. Some of them noted that the intervention would save them from the monthly embarrassment and stress associated with lack of access to sanitary products.
Education experts present at the event described the initiative as a milestone in advancing menstrual health awareness and improving gender equality in education. They emphasized that keeping girls in school during their menstrual cycle would significantly reduce dropout rates, particularly in rural areas, and enhance the overall development of the nation.
