By Adenike Lawal
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has joined voices advocating for menstrual equity, aligning with global efforts to end period poverty and ensure every girl in Nigeria can manage her menstruation with dignity.
Marking the 2024 International Menstrual Hygiene Day, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called on stakeholders across government, civil society, and the private sector to break the silence surrounding menstruation and dismantle systemic barriers affecting adolescent girls.
Speaking under this year’s theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”, Senator Tinubu emphasized that menstruation should never limit a girl’s right to education, health, or opportunity.
She stressed that consistent access to sanitary products, clean water, and safe hygiene facilities must become a national priority.
“Menstruation must never be a barrier to education or health,” she stated. “No girl should miss school, feel shame, or be denied her dignity because of a natural biological process.”
The First Lady also highlighted the urgent need for menstrual education – not just among girls, but across households and communities.
Breaking the taboo around periods, she said, starts with openness and understanding at all levels of society.
Her remarks come amid growing concern over inadequate menstrual health infrastructure in rural schools, where the absence of basic hygiene products often forces girls to stay home during their cycles.
Senator Tinubu urged for stronger multisectoral collaboration to make sanitary products affordable and accessible nationwide.
Through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Tinubu has championed menstrual hygiene awareness as a critical component of women and girls’ empowerment programs, aiming to improve health outcomes and educational attainment.
“Let’s stand together to ensure every girl lives with dignity,” she concluded, calling on Nigerians to support a future where no girl is disadvantaged simply because she menstruates.
