Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the distribution of 370,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls in rural communities across Nigeria, describing the project as a “vital menstrual health intervention.”
The initiative, flagged off on Thursday under her Renewed Hope Initiative and themed Flow with Confidence, was launched at the Lagos State House, Alausa, Ikeja.
The pads, worth N2.55 billion, will be shared among 36 states and the FCT, with each state receiving 10,000 packs.
Represented by Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Mrs. Tinubu said the programme seeks to curb absenteeism among rural girls who often miss classes due to lack of menstrual products.
“No girl should miss school because she cannot afford sanitary pads. Some use unsafe alternatives, while others drop out entirely. This intervention is to end that cycle,” she said.
She added that each beneficiary will receive a year’s supply of disposable pads.
Stakeholders say the cost of menstrual products in Nigeria remains prohibitive, often forcing teenagers to rely on unhygienic substitutes.
The Lagos Commissioner for Basic Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, praised the initiative, saying it demonstrates “the federal government’s commitment to girl-child education and reproductive health.”
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