In a move to combat period poverty and support young women, serial entrepreneur and youth advocate, Seyi Tinubu, donated sanitary pads to 12,000 girls across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last week.
This initiative was launched to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed annually on May 28th. The outreach was a collaborative effort between the Almaasaareef Foundation and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership.
During a visit to Junior Secondary School, Waru, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Rinsola Abiola, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, lauded Mr. Tinubu for his generosity and dedication to empowering women and youth. She also encouraged the students to prioritize their education, emphasizing its importance in broadening their horizons and opening doors to new opportunities.
Ms. Abiola had previously highlighted on World Menstrual Hygiene Day that providing free sanitary pads is crucial, as menstruation often prevents girls from low-income communities from attending school, negatively impacting their education and limiting their potential as future leaders.
The Almaasaareef Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. Hauwa Aminu, also educated the students and community members on the proper usage and disposal of sanitary pads.
The outreach, which began on Monday, May 26th, and concluded on Saturday, May 31st, reached beneficiaries from various schools and communities across the FCT. These included Junior Secondary School, Naharati, and Junior Secondary School, Sabon Gari in Abaji Area Council; Junior Secondary School Kwali Central and Junior Day Secondary School in Kwali; Junior Secondary School, Sabon Gari, Junior Secondary School, Abbatoir, and the Gwako Children Home in Gwagwalada; Junior Secondary School, Kayarda, Junior Secondary School, Kuje Central, Junior Girls Boarding Secondary School, School for the Blind, and the Disability Community, Kuchingoro in Kuje Area Council; Junior Secondary School, Bwari Central and Junior Secondary School, Bwari 1 in Bwari; and Junior Secondary School, Waru, Junior Secondary School, Takushara, Karu Children Home, and a collection of Islamiyyas in Mararaba Yarkasuwa in AMAC.
As part of the outreach, visits were also made to key traditional rulers in each of the six area councils, including the Etsu of Kwali, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, the Gomo Kuje, the Sarkin Bwari, and the Sapeyi of Garki, demonstrating a holistic approach to community engagement.
