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The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to placing the Nigerian child at the centre of national development, describing investment in girls’ education and welfare as critical to the country’s future.
Alausa stated this at the national flag-off of the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school materials to girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The event, held at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, was flagged off by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, under the Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School initiative to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
The minister commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising children’s welfare and education under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that access to quality education and adequate support would help nurture future leaders, teachers, manufacturers and responsible citizens.
He described girls’ education as an investment in Nigeria’s future, stressing that removing barriers to school attendance and learning would enable girls to develop their abilities, fulfil their aspirations and contribute meaningfully to national development.
In her remarks, the First Lady said the initiative was designed to promote girls’ dignity, menstrual health and continued participation in education through the provision of sanitary towels and essential learning materials.
She recalled that the Renewed Hope Initiative launched the original Flow with Confidence programme on October 2, 2025, providing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities.
Tinubu called for transparency and accountability in distributing the materials to ensure they reached the intended beneficiaries. She also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and community stakeholders to tackle the stigma surrounding menstruation and create an enabling environment for girls to remain in school.
The First Lady further highlighted plans by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to provide scholarships under its Learners Retention Support Programme, targeting an initial 100,000 learners with grants of ₦20,000 each.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the initiative as an important intervention to promote menstrual health and hygiene, insisting that menstruation should not prevent girls from attending school or achieving their educational goals.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving access to quality basic education through infrastructure development, learning materials, teacher training and better water and sanitation facilities.
Garba disclosed that more than 4,000 classrooms had been constructed in less than three years, while back-to-school materials were provided to over three million pupils in the preceding year. She also said collaboration with relevant agencies had supported the return of 700,000 out-of-school children to education.
Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would sustain efforts to expand educational opportunities, improve learner retention and remove barriers to learning, particularly for girls, through collaboration with families, communities and development partners.
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