Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, has flagged off the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school materials to girls in public basic education schools across the country.
The exercise, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, is part of the “Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School” initiative to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
Speaking at the event,Tunji Alausa, minister of education, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to girls’ education, saying investment in their welfare and empowerment is critical to national development.
Alausa commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising children’s education under the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that access to quality education and adequate support would help develop future leaders and responsible citizens.
He said addressing barriers to school attendance and learning would enable girls to develop their abilities, fulfil their aspirations and contribute to national development.
In her remarks, the first lady said the initiative was designed to promote girls’ dignity, menstrual health and continued participation in education by providing sanitary towels and essential learning materials.
She recalled that the Renewed Hope Initiative launched the first phase of the programme on October 2, 2025, providing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities.
Tinubu called for transparency and accountability in the distribution process to ensure that the materials reach the intended beneficiaries.
She also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and community stakeholders to help address the stigma surrounding menstruation and create an environment where girls can remain in school and pursue their aspirations.
The first lady further highlighted the Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC) planned scholarship support under its Learners Retention Support Programme, which initially targets 100,000 learners for grants of N20,000 each.
Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, minister of state for education, described the initiative as an important intervention to protect girls’ dignity and promote menstrual health and hygiene.
Ahmad said menstruation should not prevent girls from attending school, participating in classroom activities or achieving their educational goals.
She encouraged girls to remain focused on their studies and believe in their abilities, adding that their aspirations and future were important to the country.
Aisha Garba, UBEC executive secretary, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving access to quality basic education and keeping children in school.
She said the commission was pursuing this through infrastructure development, the provision of learning materials, teacher training and improved water and sanitation facilities.
Garba said more than 4,000 classrooms had been constructed in less than three years, while back-to-school materials were provided to more than three million pupils in the preceding year.
She added that collaboration with relevant agencies had supported the return of 700,000 out-of-school children to education.
Alausa said the education ministry would continue to support initiatives aimed at expanding educational opportunities, improving learner retention and removing barriers to learning, particularly for girls.
He added that collaboration among government institutions, families, communities and development partners was essential to improving educational outcomes.
