Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has officially launched the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) – Flow with Confidence programme in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
The programme, rolled out simultaneously in Borno, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Cross River and Lagos States, aims to empower schoolgirls by improving menstrual health and hygiene. Each state, including the Federal Capital Territory, will receive 10,000 packs of disposable sanitary pads for distribution through state first ladies and RHI coordinators.
Speaking at the launch, the first lady, who was represented by Nana Kashim Shettima, wife of the Vice President:
“No girl should have to miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products. It is unacceptable that girls, particularly in rural communities, continue to face challenges during their menstrual cycle, often missing school or resorting to unsafe alternatives. This must end.”
In Borno State alone, 10,000 schoolgirls in rural communities will benefit, with each receiving a one-year supply of sanitary pads. The initiative, under the education framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to reach thousands of vulnerable girls across the country.
The pads, customised and locally produced by Uni Glory Nigeria Limited in Lagos, cost the Initiative ₦2.55 billion. Mrs Shettima stressed that the pads are not to be sold under any circumstances.
She appealed to local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support and monitor the distribution exercise, ensuring the pads reach the intended beneficiaries.
“For us at the Renewed Hope Initiative, no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education,” she declared, officially launching the Flow with Confidence programme to the glory of God and for the benefit of Nigerian schoolgirls.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by his Deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur, commended the First Lady for her foresight and compassion in addressing the challenges of menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls.
He said, “This initiative was not merely about the distribution of sanitary products but about compassion, solidarity, and the responsibility of government to protect the dignity of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.”
The Governor assured of Borno State Government’s unwavering support to complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the programme would restore confidence to young girls and reduce school absenteeism caused by lack of access to sanitary products.
“Initiatives such as this remind us that governance is about people, and leadership must be measured not only in words but in actions that touch lives directly.”
Also speaking, the First Lady of Borno State, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum, appreciated the gesture and said the 10,000 sanitary packs allocated to Borno would be distributed fairly to ensure rural communities benefit.
The State Coordinator of RHI, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum, noted that the project reflects the commitment of Senator Oluremi Tinubu to empower women and girls nationwide.
Other dignitaries present included local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, school administrators, and women’s groups who pledged to monitor the distribution process to ensure accountability.
The Flow with Confidence programme, under the education pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to reach girls across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
