By Victoria Okpanachi
Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has distributed 370,000 sanitary pads across the 36 states and the FCT under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), to promote menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls.
Kogi State received 10,000 of the disposable pads, which are being distributed to school girls across the state’s 21 Local Government Area.
Speaking at the state launch in Lokoja, themed ‘Empowering Schoolgirls Through Menstrual Health’, Sen. Tinubu said the initiative was conceived to help young girls maintain proper menstrual hygiene while boosting their confidence and sense of dignity.
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Represented by the wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Sefinat Ododo, she emphasised that the ‘Flow With Confidence’ campaign specifically targets schoolgirls in rural communities who often face difficulties managing menstruation due to limited access to sanitary products and proper hygiene facilities.
The First Lady stressed that in the modern world, no girl should be forced to miss school because of her menstrual cycle, particularly those who cannot afford sanitary products or are compelled to resort to unhygienic alternatives.
She called on corporate organisations, traditional institutions and well-meaning individuals to support the initiative and ensure proper distribution of the sanitary items, while encouraging beneficiaries to remain focused on their education and future goals.
Speaking on menstrual hygiene and health, Dr Grace Afolabi of the Kogi State Ministry of Health, described menstruation as a natural biological process often surrounded by stigma and misinformation.
She noted that increased sensitisation would help break such barriers, improve hygiene practices and enhance school attendance among girls.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Hon Wemi Jones, described ‘Flow With Confidence’ as a transformative movement aimed at restoring dignity and building self-confidence among schoolgirls.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Acharu Okpanachi, appreciated the enabling environment created for gender-focused interventions, stating that such efforts empower girls to lead healthier and more confident lives.
