Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), a pet project of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is to distribute Ten thousand disposable sanitary pads to schoolgirls across the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
The intervention which comes under the “Flow With Confidence” project is designed to promote menstrual hygiene and support young girls, particularly those in rural communities, with access to sanitary products so they can stay in school and pursue their aspirations without interruption.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony for school girls in Lokoja, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said the initiative was conceived to help young girls maintain proper menstrual hygiene and boost their confidence.
Represented by the Wife of the Kogi State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, the First Lady explained that the programme is being launched simultaneously in selected states across the the country.
She noted that the project targets schoolgirls in rural communities who often face challenges managing menstruation due to lack of access to sanitary products.
According to Mrs Ododo, the project will provide beneficiaries with a one-year supply of sanitary pads, ensuring that menstruation does not become a barrier to education.
“No girl should miss a day at school due to inability to access sanitary products. We are distributing a one-year supply of pads so that girls will not have to choose between their education and their health,” she stated.
Senator Tinubu also expressed concern that many girls in rural areas resort to unhygienic alternatives during their menstrual periods, which can lead to infections and other health complications.
She stressed that the programme aims to ensure that girls can
“flow with pride and confidence,” free from shame, stigma, or the physical challenges caused by a lack of sanitary products.
The First Lady urged corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the initiative, while also calling on traditional and religious leaders to help monitor the proper distribution of the sanitary items.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their education and strive to achieve their dreams.
“You are the future of this nation, and I believe in you. Menstruation should never stop you from becoming everything you aspire to be,” she said.
In her remarks,
the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Honourable Acharu Okpanachi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to programmes of the Renewed Hope Initiative aimed at improving the health, dignity and social wellbeing of women and girls.
The “Flow With Confidence” initiative, which is being implemented nationwide through the Renewed Hope Initiative, will distribute 370,000 sanitary pads across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, providing thousands of schoolgirls with essential menstrual hygiene support.
