UMUAHIA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, launches a nationwide initiative to combat menstrual poverty and keep girls in school.
The Flow with Confidence Sanitary Pad Initiative targets rural communities, distributing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls nationwide.
“No girl should miss school because she cannot afford sanitary materials,” Tinubu says in remarks delivered by Priscilla Otti.
She describes menstruation as natural and insists it must never undermine dignity, confidence or education.
Each state receives 10,000 packs under the programme, which prioritises hygiene and reproductive health safety.
Addressing students, Otti urges them to reject stigma and pursue their ambitions without shame.
Health educator Joy Okechukwu stresses the importance of hygiene education, while Dr Theodora Igboaruka highlights the role of parents and schools.
Abia Women Affairs Commissioner Maureen Aghukwa calls the initiative “transformative”, noting its impact on attendance and self-esteem.
Health Commissioner Enoch Ogbonnaya-Uche pledges sustained monitoring and education.
The programme marks a major step in addressing menstrual inequality nationwide.
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