Empowerment

Oluremi Tinubu launches menstrual health drive in Anambra

Published

12 months ago

November 12, 2025

Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative donates 10,000 sanitary pads to girls in Anambra to promote menstrual hygiene and keep them in school

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled a national menstrual health project under her Renewed Hope Initiative, tagged “Flow with Confidence,” with the distribution of 10,000 sanitary pad packs to teenage girls across Anambra State.

Also read: Lagos ports receive 20 ships with fuel, food items

The initiative, which was first launched in October 2025, aims to distribute 370,000 sanitary pad packs nationwide—10,000 for each state and the Federal Capital Territory—to empower schoolgirls, promote menstrual hygiene, and restore their dignity through a year-long supply of sanitary pads.

At the Anambra State flag-off ceremony held on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the Light House, Awka, Senator Tinubu was represented by the state’s First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, who also serves as the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Dr Soludo, founder of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo campaign, said the allocation would be shared across communities, especially in rural areas where many girls struggle to access menstrual hygiene products.

She described the programme as a timely intervention to tackle the stigma, ridicule, and loss of confidence often faced by schoolgirls during their periods.

“It is wrong for girls to miss school during their periods because they cannot afford sanitary pads or fear stained clothes,” Soludo said, reading the First Lady’s address.
“Through this initiative, young girls will not only receive sanitary pads but also gain the confidence to pursue their education without disruption. This is about health, dignity, and self-esteem.”

She further disclosed that about ₦2.5 billion was spent to produce the sanitary pads locally, urging the girls to use them properly to avoid infections caused by unhygienic alternatives such as rags or tissue paper.

Member representing Onitsha North I Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Ifeoma Azikiwe, commended Senator Tinubu’s compassion and commitment to the welfare of women and girls nationwide.

“This is a laudable step toward ensuring menstrual health, reducing infection risks, and enabling our girls to stay in school with confidence,” Azikiwe said.

A female health expert who addressed the gathering urged the girls to view menstruation as a natural and empowering process.

“Menstruation is not something to hide or be embarrassed about—it is part of womanhood. Use your pads correctly, maintain good hygiene, and never let your period hold you back from achieving your dreams,” she advised.

The event drew participation from state officials, women’s groups, and students from across Anambra’s 21 local government areas.

Each schoolgirl received sanitary pads and cash gifts from Dr Soludo to cover transport fares back home.

Also read: Lagos ports receive 20 ships with fuel, food items

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting that access to sanitary products would help them attend school regularly and boost their confidence among peers.

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State development

Bauchi Urges Girls to Pursue Education and Skilled Jobs

Published

1 day ago

October 26, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi girls’ education campaign urges students to complete school, learn vocational skills and pursue careers traditionally dominated by men

Girls in Bauchi State have been encouraged to complete their education, acquire vocational skills and pursue careers traditionally dominated by men as part of efforts to promote financial independence and reduce gender inequality.

Also read: Rest of World to Shut Down as Search for New Home Continues

The call was made on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at an event in Bauchi to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.

The event was organised under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Project in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative, and Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative.

Speaking at the event, Mustapha Idris, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative, said the annual observance aimed to raise awareness of girls’ rights and promote their well-being.

He said the programme was designed to encourage girls to explore a wider range of professions and address gender disparities in the workplace.

Idris urged students to use their school holidays to learn practical skills, including shoemaking and soap production, which could help them earn an income and improve their economic prospects.

“Girls should not feel ashamed of learning a trade or engaging in legitimate businesses. These skills can provide them with sources of income, promote financial independence and reduce their reliance on others,” he said.

Monica Tanko, Executive Director of Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative, urged the girls to remain committed to their education and avoid leaving school before completing their studies.

She also encouraged them to develop practical skills alongside their formal education, saying the combination could help prepare them for future challenges and employment opportunities.

Tanko stressed the importance of self-reliance while encouraging the students to maintain their personal dignity as they pursued their ambitions.

Timothy Ibrahim, an engineer with more than 20 years of professional experience, encouraged the students to consider engineering and other professions in which women have traditionally been underrepresented.

He urged them not to allow gender stereotypes to discourage them from pursuing their interests, adding that girls could excel when they had access to opportunities, encouragement and support.

His message reinforced the event’s call for girls to look beyond occupations traditionally associated with women and explore careers across technical and professional fields.

The event was attended by female students from several schools in Bauchi metropolis, including Rafin Zurfi, Bakaro, Unguwar Doya, Gudun Sayawa and the Federal Government Girls’ College.

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11 to promote girls’ rights and draw attention to challenges affecting their development.

The Bauchi event used the occasion to highlight the importance of education, vocational training and access to a wider range of career opportunities.

The organisers’ message was that empowering girls requires more than keeping them in school.

Also read: Rest of World to Shut Down as Search for New Home Continues

Access to practical skills, supportive role models and opportunities to enter different professions can also help young women build greater economic independence and participate more fully in their communities.