By Stephen Adeleye
The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has donated 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to school girls in Kogi under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
Sen. Tinubu distributed the pads on Wednesday in Lokoja, during the launch of her “Flow With Confidence” initiative, aimed at empowering school girls the country through menstrual health education and provision of sanitary pads.
Represented by the wife of Kogi Governor, Hajia Sefinat Ododo, the First Lady said the initiative includes the donation of 370,000 disposable sanitary pads to girls in rural communities across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
She said initiative is part of the RHI, aimed to address the challenges faced by girls in accessing sanitary products, leading to absenteeism and dropout from schools.
“Today, I am handing over 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to Kogi State’s First lady, for distribution to 10,000 girls in rural areas – each getting a year’s supply.
“We believe that no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity or her education.
“The RHI has spent N2.55 billion procuring sanitary pads from a local manufacturer, and will distribute them to 370,000 school girls in rural communities,” she said
She urged stakeholders to support the programme, and commended Gov. Ahmed Ododo and his wife for supporting the initiative and their efforts towards empowering girl child in the state.
Dr Grace Afolabi from the Federal Ministry of Health, emphasised the need for parents to educate their children on menstrual hygiene and for government to invest in menstrual health.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, described the program as “a movement to restore dignity, build confidence, and ensure no girl is left behind due to menstruation.”
Jones thanked the first lady and the governor’s wife for the initiative.
Mr Tijani Oricha, the State Coordinator of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, said the event is “a strong statement of commitment to dignity, inclusion, and uninterrupted education for every girl child.”
The Headgirl of GYB Model Science Secondary School (GYBMSSS) Adankolo, Miss Goodnews Shiloba, who spoke on behalf of the students, commended the first lady for the initiative.
The initiative urges corporate organizations and government agencies to support the program to empower more girls.
