FCT WOMEN AFFAIRS LAUNCHES ‘FLOW WITH CONFIDENCE’ FOR RURAL GIRLS
By: Felicia Adeyemi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, on Wednesday 5th November, 2025 launched the ‘Flow With Confidence’ initiative for rural girls. The launch marked the culmination of a nationwide menstrual health drive that has transformed the lives of young girls across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.
The programme, which took place at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Abuja, saw the handover of 10,000 packs of disposable sanitary pads, each providing a full year’s supply to 10,000 deserving schoolgirls from rural communities across the FCT’s six area councils.
Speaking during the programme, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, stated that menstrual health has remained one of the major challenges facing adolescent girls in the society.
Represented by the FCT Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the First Lady added that no girl should miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products.
“It is unacceptable that our girls still continue to face significant challenges during their menstrual cycle, especially those in rural communities, who miss school days every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads.”
She said that the situation whereby girls cannot afford sanitary products but resort to using unsafe and unhygienic alternatives, or staying at home thereby falling behind in their studies and, in some cases, eventually drop out of school must end.
She said that the intervention which is an off-shoot of the education framework of the Renewed Hope Initiative, is aimed at changing the unfortunate narrative.
The initiative, rolled out simultaneously across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, will ultimately distribute a one-year supply of pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural areas nationwide. Each state and the FCT received 10,000 packs, channeled through State First Ladies and Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Coordinators, targeting those unable to afford such essentials.
“We chose disposable sanitary pads because it offers a simple, hygienic option that offers better health benefits for a woman’s reproductive wellbeing,”
“For us at the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), we believe that no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education,” the First Lady said
She revealed that the FCT handover alone represents a significant investment, stating that the RHI procured the customised pads from Uniglory Nigeria Limited in Ikorodu, Lagos State, at a total cost of N2,550,297,150 for the national rollout.
The First Lady called for collective ownership of the programme while charging local government authorities to ensure that the products are effectively distributed. “Given your critical position as the arm of government closest to the people and your role in delivering essential services, it is crucial that you take ownership of this intervention, scale-up and ensure these supplies get directly to deserving girls in our rural communities. The pads are not to be sold under any circumstance.”
Traditional, religious, and community leaders were also called upon to play pivotal roles.
“We cannot do this without your support,” She noted. I urge you to monitor the distribution exercise in your communities and ensure you support our girls to grow into responsible and informed adults.”
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Marmoud, represented by a Senior Special Assistant, Mujida Adamu appreciated the First Lady for the initiative stating that the programme grassroots potential, adding that the initiative is a necessity in the grassroot communities where the people do not have the voice.
The Mandate Secretary in her own address advised the beneficiaries to make the most of the supplies, and not to sell them. To stay in school, study hard, support one another and never allow shame or stigma to take away their confidence. She also asked them to use the opportunity to pursue their dreams boldly, as the nation’s future.
Also speaking, the Etsu Kwali, His Royal Highness Ayedo Luka Nizassan III, hailed the initiative as a decisive action against poverty.
The Etsu linked the programme to three of the RHI’s five thematic areas: education, health, and social investment, arguing that it fosters long-term development.
However, he said that the initiative should transcend from being just a programme, but should be incorporated into the national education policy.
The beneficiaries expressed profound gratitude to the FirstLady, saying that their joy underscored the immediate relief and hope sparked by the distribution.
