Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for the removal of barriers to girls’ education, particularly challenges associated with menstrual health and financial constraints that prevent girls from attending and remaining in school.
Tinubu made the call while delivering her address at the launch of the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and learning materials to girls in public basic schools across the country, held in Abuja on Monday.
The programme is designed to support girls’ education by addressing menstrual health needs and financial challenges that can affect school attendance and retention. It was organised under the Flow with Confidence 2.0 initiative to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed on Sunday, October 11.
The First Lady stated that keeping girls in school required recognising and addressing challenges affecting their education, especially in rural communities where many girls miss classes because they lack access to sanitary products.
She recalled that the Renewed Hope Initiative, which she chairs, launched the Flow with Confidence programme on October 2, 2025, providing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities across the country.
Tinubu expressed satisfaction that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had taken over the programme and expanded its coverage through the second phase, which would provide sanitary towels for one year alongside essential back-to-school learning materials.
According to her, the intervention is aimed at ensuring that girls return to school with confidence, participate fully in learning and continue their education with dignity.
The First Lady also highlighted UBEC’s Learners Retention Support Programme, which is expected to reach 100,000 learners in its first phase, with each beneficiary receiving a grant of ₦20,000 to address financial barriers to school attendance and retention.
She said that the ₦2 billion intervention reflected the administration’s commitment to ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent girls from accessing education.
Tinubu urged state first ladies, commissioners of education, and UBEC leadership responsible for distributing the sanitary towels to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability, stressing the need to reach every deserving girl.
She also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community leaders to support the initiative by helping to address the stigma and silence surrounding menstruation.
“Their voices are important in nurturing how families and communities should respond to issues affecting our girls,” she remarked.
Addressing girls across the country, the First Lady encouraged them to believe in their dreams, remain in school, work hard, and speak up whenever they needed help.
“I want you to grow into confident and courageous women, ready to contribute meaningfully to our nation. Nigeria is counting on you, and I believe in you,” she said.
Tinubu subsequently flagged off the nationwide distribution of the two million packs of sanitary towels and learning materials to girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
She commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, and development partners and stakeholders for their contributions to the initiative.
