The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has launched the Renewed Hope Initiative, Flow with Confidence program at the national level, with Plateau State joining other states in the rollout. The program aims to support school girls with menstrual hygiene supplies and education so they do not miss school because of their monthly cycle.
Speaking at the launch in Plateau State, the First Lady of the state and State Coordinator of RHI, Barr. Helen Ingbo Mutfwang, said that in today’s world no girl should miss school because she cannot afford sanitary products. She noted that it is unacceptable that many girls continue to face challenges during menstruation, especially those in rural areas who miss several school days each month because they lack sanitary pads.
Barr. Mutfwang described the Renewed Hope Initiative, Flow with Confidence, as a vital menstrual health intervention designed to empower school girls by promoting knowledge, dignity and confidence through improved menstrual hygiene. According to her, under the education framework of the initiative, disposables sanitary pads will be distributed to 370,000 school girls in rural communities across the country. She explained that each state, including Plateau, will receive 10,000 packs, saying this support is targeted at girls in rural communities and those who cannot afford sanitary products.
During the ceremony, she announced that she would be handing over 10,000 packs of disposable sanitary pads for distribution to 10,000 girls in rural areas across Plateau State, adding that each beneficiary will receive one year supply. The governor’s wife also highlighted that disposable sanitary pads offer a simple hygiene option that contributes to mental health and the reproductive well-being of women. She emphasized that RHI promotes the idea that no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education.
She called on chairmen of the seventeen local government areas to ensure that the supplies get directly to deserving girls in the rural communities. Barr. Mutfwang disclosed that the total cost of the customized disposable pads is two billion five hundred and fifty million, two hundred and ninety-seven thousand, one hundred and fifty naira. She explained that the pads were produced by a local manufacturing company, Unique Glory Nigeria Limited, based in Ikorodu, Lagos State. She encouraged cooperative organizations, parastatals, agencies, and public-spirited Nigerians to key into the program and empower more girls.
The governor’s wife also appealed to traditional, religious and community leaders to support the initiative by monitoring distribution within their communities. She urged everyone to commit to the dignity and well-being of every Nigerian girl so the country can build a future where girls have the support they need to live, learn, strive and, as she put it, “Flow with Confidence.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Caroline Panglang Dafur, described the flag-off of sanitary pad distribution across Plateau State as a significant milestone in the effort to improve menstrual health for women and girls. Dafur said the initiative recognizes the challenges girls face and reflects a shared commitment to solving them. She said the beneficiaries are future leaders, innovators and change makers who must hold their heads high, flow with pride and confidence because they deserve every opportunity to succeed.
The Commissioner expressed gratitude to the First Lady of Nigeria and National Coordinator of RHI, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her dedication to empowering women and girls. She praised the First Lady’s leadership and impact, saying the program is a testament to her commitment. Dafur also acknowledged the First Lady of Plateau State, Barr. Helen Mutfwang, for her passion towards the welfare of women and girls, noting that her guidance and leadership were key to making the initiative a reality.
She described the event as more than just distribution of sanitary pads, but a symbol of hope, dignity, and empowerment for women and girls. The event featured spoken word presentations by students, short clips on menstrual hygiene, and the official launch and distribution of sanitary pads by Barr. Helen Mutfwang to students at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos.
