Against the backdrop of relying on unsafe alternatives during the menstrual cycle for young girls, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, launched another phase of her menstrual hygiene support programme in Benue State, distributing about N2.5 billion worth of sanitary pads to vulnerable schoolgirls across rural communities.
The intervention, carried out under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s “Flow With Confidence” campaign, involves the distribution of disposable sanitary pads valued at more than N2.5 billion.
The programme aims to improve menstrual hygiene, restore dignity, and reduce the barriers preventing many girls from remaining in school.
Remi Tinubu Sanitary Pads Donation Targets Rural Schoolgirls in Benue
The initiative was formally flagged off in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where government officials, education stakeholders, and community leaders gathered for the distribution exercise.
Speaking during the event through the Benue State Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Scholastica Ben-Sor, Oluremi Tinubu explained that 10,000 packs of disposable sanitary pads would be distributed to girls across the state’s 23 local government areas. Each beneficiary is expected to receive a one-year supply.
According to the First Lady, the broader national programme is expected to reach about 370,000 girls in rural communities across Nigeria. She stressed that the intervention goes beyond providing sanitary materials and seeks to protect the dignity and educational future of young girls.
The sanitary pads donation campaign led by Remi Tinubu also reflects growing attention toward menstrual hygiene management as part of wider girl-child education and public health discussions in Nigeria.
Menstrual Hygiene Linked To School Attendance
Health advocates and education experts have long argued that poor menstrual hygiene support contributes significantly to absenteeism among schoolgirls, particularly in rural areas where access to sanitary products remains limited.
During the launch, officials highlighted concerns that many girls still resort to unsafe alternatives because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Others stay away from school entirely during their menstrual cycle due to fear, discomfort, or social stigma.
Therefore, the programme aims to ensure that menstruation does not become a reason for interrupted education or reduced confidence among young girls.
Ben-Sor described the intervention as part of broader efforts to empower girls with knowledge, confidence, and improved reproductive hygiene awareness. She also appealed to local government officials, traditional rulers, and community leaders to monitor the distribution process and ensure the products reach the intended beneficiaries.
Support For Local Manufacturing And Community Participation
Another major aspect of the initiative involves support for indigenous manufacturing. Officials disclosed that the sanitary pads were procured from a local Nigerian company, Uniglory Nigeria Limited, based in Lagos State.
Observers say the move aligns with increasing calls for stronger patronage of locally manufactured products while supporting interventions that directly affect education and public health.
The donation campaign also encouraged collaboration between government agencies, private organizations, and community stakeholders. The First Lady urged corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to support similar initiatives capable of reaching more vulnerable girls nationwide.
She also warned against diverting or selling the sanitary pads, insisting that the materials must get directly to deserving beneficiaries in rural communities.
Renewed Focus On Girl-Child Welfare
The programme has added to ongoing conversations around menstrual health and the challenges affecting girls’ education across Nigeria. In recent years, advocacy groups and development organizations have repeatedly called for stronger menstrual hygiene policies, especially in underserved communities.
For many observers, the intervention represents a practical response to a problem often ignored despite its impact on education, confidence, and social inclusion.
The sanitary pads donation initiative championed by Remi Tinubu in Benue now joins several other social interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative framework, which focuses on health, education, economic empowerment, and social welfare programmes across the country.
As distribution continues in Benue and other states, attention remains on how sustained menstrual hygiene support could help improve school attendance and educational outcomes for thousands of Nigerian girls.
