NGOs launch sanitary pad bank to boost girl child education in Adamawa

YOLA —Ojoma Yusuf,Yola

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE Nigeria) with support from Plan International and High-Level Women Advocacy (HILWA) have inaugurated a sanitary pad bank at Government Day Junior Secondary School (GDJSS) Yelwa, Adamawa State.

The initiative which is aimed at enhancing menstrual hygiene and ensuring access to sanitary products, is part of efforts to create a supportive learning environment for girls in Adamawa State.

FAWE’s Education Officer in Adamawa,Ibrahim Bello, explained that the initiative aligns with the Gender Responsive Education Sector Plan (GRESP), which seeks to address the specific educational needs of both male and female students.

Supported by the EU-INTPA project, the program strengthens civil society’s capacity to advocate for gender-responsive education policies in northern Nigeria.

Bello expressed optimism that gender-specific education needs will be incorporated into Adamawa’s 2025 budget.

“The sanitary pad bank ensures girls can attend school uninterrupted during their menstrual cycles, enabling them to compete equally with boys academically,” he stated.

Highlighting UNICEF statistics that half of schools in low-income countries lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene, Bello called on stakeholders, including the government and private sector, to support the initiative.

He also announced the formation of a monitoring team involving various stakeholders to ensure sustainability.

HILWA’s representative, Dr. Hadiza Dauda, emphasized the importance of the initiative, revealing that her organization donated 150 packs of sanitary pads to launch the bank.

“This is just the beginning; we aim to extend this initiative to all schools in the state,” she said.

Representatives from the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and civil society organizations pledged their full support for the project, commending FAWE and HILWA for championing the cause of menstrual hygiene and girl child education.

This initiative marks a significant step toward addressing barriers to education for girls in Adamawa State, ensuring they can learn and thrive without interruption.