The Biodun Oyebanji-led government in Ekiti State, through the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, has distributed sanitary pads and other personal care items to about 300 pupils as part of activities marking the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The event, held at the Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere-Ekiti, brought together education stakeholders, development partners, teachers, pupils and religious leaders to promote menstrual hygiene awareness and adolescent well-being.
The Ekiti State AGILE Project Coordinator, Yewande Adesua, said the initiative was aimed at empowering young people with the knowledge and resources needed to maintain proper personal hygiene and improve their educational outcomes.
She explained that the World Bank-supported project was designed to expand access to quality secondary education and create a conducive learning environment for pupils across the state.
According to her, the project has gone beyond improving access to education by providing modern infrastructure and learning facilities in public schools.
Adesua said that the interventions include classroom renovation, provision of water and sanitation facilities, solar-powered systems, smart boards, computers and other digital learning tools.
She noted that the celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day was organised to educate girls on menstrual health and eliminate misconceptions surrounding menstruation.
“We are telling our girls that menstruation is a natural biological process and not something to be ashamed of. Every girl should feel confident and comfortable during her menstrual period,” she said.
The coordinator added that the AGILE Project now accommodates both girls and boys in its programmes to ensure inclusive development and equal opportunities for all adolescents.
“A bird cannot fly with one wing. We are carrying both boys and girls along because development must be inclusive,” she added.
A representative of the New Initiative for Social Development, Rachael Olori, said the organisation serves as the implementing partner for AGILE’s Safe Space Programme in Ekiti State.
She explained that the programme provides a platform for adolescents to acquire life skills, mentorship and guidance beyond classroom learning.
According to her, the initiative has been implemented in 198 schools for girls and 10 schools for boys across the state since its introduction in 2023.
She urged students to maintain close relationships with mentors and counsellors, whom she described as critical to their personal growth and future success.
“We do not just want to uplift the girls; we want to uplift both girls and boys. If we raise girls and leave the boys behind, development will not be balanced,” she said.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
