The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has commenced the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and learning materials to girls in public basic education schools nationwide to improve school attendance and retention.

The executive secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, said this on Monday in Abuja at the launch of the initiative, tagged “Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School”.

The programme, launched by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, covers the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ms Garba said the initiative was designed to address barriers to girls’ education, particularly menstrual hygiene challenges and poverty, which could prevent schoolgirls from attending classes regularly.

“Our message is clear: no girl child should have to choose between her dignity and her education,” she said.

She said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritised education and the wellbeing of Nigerian children.

Ms Garba said UBEC had facilitated the construction of more than 4,000 classrooms nationwide in less than three years, alongside the provision of water and sanitation facilities, learning materials and digital technology.

She added that more than three million pupils had benefited from back-to-school materials in the preceding year, while about 700,000 out-of-school children had been returned to classrooms through interventions involving relevant agencies and stakeholders.

According to her, the sanitary towels would be distributed alongside school bags, shoes, exercise books, mathematics textbooks and other writing materials.

Ms Garba also announced a scholarship intervention under UBEC’s Learners Retention Support Programme, targeting 100,000 learners in its first phase.

She said each beneficiary was expected to receive N20,000 under the N2 billion allocation to help address financial challenges affecting school attendance and retention.

The UBEC executive secretary urged state governments, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and development partners to ensure the transparent distribution of the materials and support efforts to keep girls in school.

In her remarks, Mrs Tinubu commended UBEC for expanding the programme to reach more schoolgirls, particularly those in rural communities.

She urged community leaders to help eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation and ensure that girls received the support needed to pursue their education with dignity.

The first lady also called on state first ladies, commissioners of education and SUBEB chairmen to ensure accountability in the implementation of the scholarship programme.

Also, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, commended Mrs Tinubu for her advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment.

Mr Alausa urged students to take advantage of government interventions, remain committed to their studies and prepare to contribute to national development.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the initiative demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to promoting menstrual health and removing barriers to girls’ education.

Mr Ahmad urged schoolgirls to remain focused and believe in their ability to succeed. 

(NAN)