Oluremi Tinubu Launches N2.55 Billion Sanitary Pad Project For Rural Schoolgirls
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has rolled out a major intervention programme to provide 370,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls in rural communities across Nigeria, an initiative worth N2.55 billion under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). The project, titled Flow with Confidence, began with a simultaneous launch in Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, and Lagos States. Other states and the FCT will follow once their consignments arrive. Speaking through Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Tinubu said the initiative is designed to tackle the challenge of girls missing school because they cannot afford sanitary products. “It is unacceptable that our girls are forced to skip school or turn to unsafe alternatives during their menstrual cycle,” she said. “This intervention is meant to change that reality and give them confidence to pursue their education without interruption.” According to the First Lady, every state and the FCT will receive 10,000 packs of disposable pads, distributed through governors’ wives and RHI coordinators. She stressed that the pads, sourced from Uniglory Nigeria Limited in Ikorodu, Lagos, are free and must not be sold. Mrs. Tinubu also appealed to local government chairmen, corporate organisations, traditional rulers, and community leaders to take ownership of the project, ensure transparency, and extend its reach to more girls in need. “At RHI, we believe no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education,” she added. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, applauded the programme, noting that it reflects the First Lady’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of schoolgirls, especially those at the grassroots.
