First Lady of Adamawa Launches Distribution of 50,000 Sanitary Pads to 424 Schools, Says Menstruation Must Never Hinder Education

First Lady of Adamawa Launches Distribution of 50,000 Sanitary Pads to 424 Schools, Says Menstruation Must Never Hinder Education

The Wife of the Adamawa State Governor, Her Excellency Hajiya Dr. Lami Ahmadu Fintiri, on Tuesday officially flagged off the distribution of 50,000 sanitary pads to 424 secondary schools across the state, describing the intervention as a life-changing effort to restore dignity, build confidence, and keep adolescent girls in school.

The ceremony, held at Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Yola, marked the state’s participation in the nationwide “Flow With Confidence” Menstrual Hygiene Initiative. The programme is spearheaded by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), under the leadership of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and National Chairman of RHI, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON.

Speaking at the event, Hajiya Dr. Lami Fintiri, who serves as the Adamawa State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, declared that no girl should be forced to miss school simply because she cannot afford safe sanitary products.

“In today’s world, menstruation should never be a barrier to education. Every girl deserves access to safe and hygienic sanitary products so she can learn with confidence and pursue her dreams without interruption,” the First Lady stated.

She explained that many girls, especially those in rural and underserved communities, continue to face severe difficulties during their menstrual cycle, with some staying away from school and others resorting to unsafe alternatives due to lack of proper sanitary materials. The theme “Flow With Confidence,” she said, sends a powerful message that menstruation is natural and must never be a source of shame, fear, or embarrassment.

Giving a breakdown of the distribution, Dr. Lami Fintiri announced that each of the 407 mixed secondary schools in the state will receive 20 packs of sanitary pads, while 17 girls’ schools, including the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Yola, will receive 50 packs each, ensuring targeted support for menstrual hygiene among female students.

She also disclosed that transportation support had been provided to facilitate the movement of the sanitary pads to the respective Local Government Areas. The First Lady appealed to school principals and the wives of the 21 Local Government Chairmen to immediately schedule distribution ceremonies in their councils, and to document the exercise with photographs and short videos for accountability and wider awareness.

Hajiya Lami Fintiri called on traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, teachers, and parents to support the initiative and ensure the pads reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly girls from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds.

She expressed profound appreciation to Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her unwavering commitment to the welfare, health, and education of young girls across the nation through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

In her remarks, the Adamawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Neido Geoffrey Kofulto, praised the programme as a timely intervention that will significantly improve menstrual hygiene awareness and boost school attendance among adolescent girls.

The Executive Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board commended the governor’s wife for her consistent support for the education sector and for keeping students at the centre of her interventions.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Wunfe B. Anthony; the Executive Chairperson of the Adamawa State Planning Commission, Dr. Mary Paninga; and the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Yola, Hajiya Rukayya Chumaro. They all described the programme as impactful, timely, and capable of transforming the lives of thousands of young girls across the state.

The event drew a large gathering of stakeholders, including wives of members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly led by the wife of the Deputy Speaker, wives of Permanent Secretaries, wives of Commissioners, wives of Local Government Chairmen, representatives of women groups, principals from the 21 Local Government Areas, teachers, and students.

Highlights of the ceremony included the symbolic presentation of sanitary pads by Her Excellency, an educational playlet performed by students of GGSS Yola, and a drama presentation emphasising the importance of menstrual hygiene, self-confidence, and keeping girls in school.