Kogi: Remi Tinubu donates 10,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls
The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated 10,000 disposable sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Kogi State under her Renewed Hope Initiative.
Mrs Tinubu distributed the pads on Wednesday in Lokoja during the launch of her “Flow With Confidence” initiative, aimed at empowering schoolgirls across the country through menstrual health education and the provision of sanitary pads.
Represented by the wife of the Kogi State Governor, Sefinat Ododo, the First Lady said the initiative includes the donation of 370,000 disposable sanitary pads to girls in rural communities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
She said the initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by girls in accessing sanitary products, which often lead to absenteeism and school dropouts.
“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 the girl-child in the state.
Grace Afolabi of the Federal Ministry of Health emphasised the need for parents to educate their children on menstrual hygiene and for the government to invest in menstrual health.
The state Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, described the programme 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.
The State Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project, Tijani Oricha, said the event is “a strong statement of commitment to dignity, inclusion, and uninterrupted education for every girl child.”
The Head Girl of GYB Model Science Secondary School, Adankolo, Goodnews Shiloba, who spoke on behalf of the students, commended the First Lady for the initiative.
The initiative urges corporate organisations and government agencies to support the programme to empower more girls.
