By Ovat Abeng
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off distribution of 10,000 disposable sanitary pads for deserving secondary school girls in Anambra state under her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).tagged “Flow with Confidence.
The flagged off ceremony took place at the banquet hall, Light House Awka on Wednesday.
Addressing the beneficiaries students including nurses students and persons with disabilities (PWD), Mrs Tinubu said the gesture is a step towards addressing menstrual health challenges among school girls across secondary schools in Nigeria through her pet project.
Representing the First Lady at the event was the wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo, 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.
About #2.5 billion was spent to provide this sanitary pads from a locally manufacturing company. I ureged you to make used of it judiciously.
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.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Ben Obidike, in his reaction, reiterated governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration’s commitment to supporting education and the well-being of schoolchildren.
Obidike urged the 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.
In their separate remarks, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency at the state house of Assembly, Hon Ifeoma Azikiwe, Executive Chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, chairperson of the state Post Primary Schools Service Commission PPSSC, Prof Nkechi Ikediugwu and the Chairman of Idemili South Local Government Area, Hon Amaka Obi commended Mrs Tinubu for her thoughtful intervention.
They described the initiative as timely and essential in promoting personal hygiene and boosting the confidence of young girls in Nigerian schools.
In their unanimous appreciation, the beneficiary students, expressed gratitude to Mrs Tinubu and Mrs Soludo for their joint-care and support.
They pledged to use the pads responsibly and promised to remain focused on their studies.
The event also featured menstrual lecture and symbolic presentation of pads to the deserving students.
