FG distributes 2m sanitary towel packs to ease girl-child education
By Uji A.Iliyasu, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to girls’ education, with the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and learning materials to schoolgirls across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said investing in children’s education, welfare and empowerment was critical to national development.
He spoke at the national flag-off of the distribution under the Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School initiative, performed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
Alausa commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising children through the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that access to quality education would help nurture future leaders, teachers, manufacturers and responsible citizens.
He described girls’ education as an investment in Nigeria’s future, adding that removing barriers to school attendance and learning would enable girls to fulfil their potential and contribute meaningfully 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 through the provision of sanitary towels and essential learning materials.
She recalled that the Renewed Hope Initiative launched the original 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 to ensure the materials reached the intended beneficiaries. She also urged parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to address menstrual stigma and create supportive environments for girls.
She further disclosed that the Universal Basic Education Commission planned to provide grants of ₦20,000 each to an initial 100,000 learners under its Learners Retention Support Programme.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said menstruation should not prevent girls from attending school or achieving their educational goals.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving access to basic education through infrastructure development, learning materials, teacher training and better water and sanitation facilities.
Garba said the commission had facilitated the construction of more than 4,000 classrooms in less than three years, distributed back-to-school materials to over three million pupils in the preceding year and collaborated with relevant agencies to support the return of 700,000 out-of-school children to various schools.
Alausa reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and improving learner retention, particularly among girls facing barriers to education.