The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of 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), as part of efforts to improve menstrual hygiene and keep girls in school.
The initiative, known as Flow with Confidence 2.0, was flagged off on Monday by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House, Abuja, to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the programme had previously reached 370,000 adolescent girls across the country and was now expanding its reach through the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school materials.
“We are paving the way for every Nigerian girl to attend school with confidence, dignity and peace of mind, without menstruation standing in the way of her education,” Alausa said.
He explained that the initiative was designed to address menstrual hygiene challenges that could affect girls’ school attendance, participation and overall educational development.
According to the minister, beneficiaries would receive sanitary towels, school bags, shoes, exercise books, mathematics textbooks and other writing materials to support their education.
Alausa recalled that when the First Lady launched the initiative a year ago, he pledged that the Federal Ministry of Education would institutionalise menstrual hygiene support through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).
“Today, we are fulfilling that commitment,” he said.
He disclosed that UBEC would make annual budgetary provisions for sanitary towels, while AGILE would sustain menstrual hygiene support throughout the project to ensure the intervention continued to benefit schoolgirls.
The minister said institutionalising the programme would help sustain menstrual hygiene interventions and strengthen efforts to remove barriers to girls’ education.
He also expressed appreciation to the First Lady for her continued commitment to girls’ education and wellbeing.
“I sincerely thank Her Excellency for her unwavering commitment to Nigerian girls,” he said.
Alausa added that the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring that every girl had access to education and the opportunity to succeed.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we remain committed to removing barriers to education and ensuring every girl has the opportunity to thrive,” he said.
Addressing Nigerian girls, the minister reaffirmed the importance of their education and wellbeing to the country’s future.
“To every Nigerian girl: Your education matters. Your wellbeing matters. And your country believes in your future,” he said.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, also emphasised the importance of addressing menstrual health challenges that could affect girls’ education, stressing that no girl should have to choose between education and menstrual hygiene.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to removing barriers to girls’ education and supporting efforts to improve access to learning in public basic education schools.
The Federal Ministry of Education urged state governments and relevant education authorities to ensure transparent distribution of the materials and maintain accountability throughout the exercise.
The government said the initiative was part of broader efforts to promote menstrual hygiene, improve school attendance and create a supportive learning environment where girls could pursue their education with confidence and dignity.