First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, as part of her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, on Thursday, distributed 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to secondary school students in Ekiti State.
The initiative tagged “Flow with Confidence,” which held in Ado-Ekiti, attracted top government functionaries and students drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state.
Tinubu, represented by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, said the nationwide initiative is aimed at ensuring that each girl-child remain in school during their menstrual cycle.
The First Lady, who decried that it is unacceptable that girls still continue to face significant challenges during their menstrual cycle, noted that the intervention under the education framework of the RHI is aimed at eradicating the menace.
Her words: “In today’s modern world, no girl should have to miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products. It is unacceptable that our girls still continue to face significant challenges during their menstrual cycle, especially those in rural communities, who miss school days every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads.
“Some who attend result to using unhygienic products while others stay at home altogether, falling behind in their studies and in some cases eventually drop out of schools and this trend must end.
“We will be distributing one year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 school girls in rural communities across the nation at the end of this exercise. This is to support our girls in rural communities and those who are unable to afford sanitary pads.”
She noted that they will partner relevant stakeholders including the wives of the LGA chairmen, community leaders, school principals and Ministry of Education, with wives of governors overseeing the distribution towards ensuring each girl-child in a school gets one carton.
The First Lady urged the relevant stakeholders to take ownership of the distribution exercise, ensure that deserving girls get the disposal sanitary pads and cautioned them against selling them out.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye commended the wife of the President for her support and said the initiative will promote personal hygiene among the students.
The governor advised the students to be conscious of their health, especially during their mensuration period and reiterated the commitment of the state government to always support them to be great in the future.
The students appreciated the First Lady for extending care and support to their well-being and assured that they would judiciously use the disposal sanitary pads.
