By Our Correspondent
National News – Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has donated 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Kogi State as part of efforts to improve menstrual health and support girls’ education.
The donation was presented on Wednesday in Lokoja during the launch of the “Flow With Confidence” initiative under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The programme targets young girls in rural communities who often struggle to access sanitary products, a challenge that can lead to school absenteeism and, in some cases, dropping out entirely.
According to the First Lady, the initiative aims to ensure that girls never have to choose between their education and their dignity.
Represented at the event by the wife of the Kogi State Governor, Sefinat Ododo, Mrs Tinubu said the project is part of a nationwide programme that will distribute about 370,000 disposable sanitary pads to schoolgirls across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
She explained that each beneficiary would receive a year’s supply of sanitary pads to help them maintain menstrual hygiene and remain confident in school.
The initiative also includes menstrual health education to empower girls with knowledge about hygiene and personal wellbeing.
Mrs Tinubu revealed that the Renewed Hope Initiative had spent about N2.55 billion procuring sanitary pads from a local manufacturer to support girls in rural communities.
She urged stakeholders, corporate organisations, and government agencies to collaborate with the programme to reach more girls nationwide.
Officials at the event highlighted the importance of menstrual health support for female students.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Grace Afolabi, called on parents to educate their daughters on menstrual hygiene while urging government institutions to invest more in menstrual health programmes.
Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, described the programme as a movement designed to restore dignity and confidence among schoolgirls while ensuring uninterrupted learning.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project, Tijani Oricha, said the initiative reflects a strong commitment to inclusion, dignity, and equal access to education for every girl child.
Students also welcomed the support. The Head Girl of GYB Model Science Secondary School, Adankolo, Goodnews Shiloba, thanked the First Lady for the intervention, noting that the donation would significantly help girls remain focused on their studies.
