The Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve access to affordable menstrual hygiene products for girls and women across Nigeria.
Ododo made the appeal in a statement issued in Lokoja to mark the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration.
She stressed that access to sanitary products remains a major challenge for many females, particularly those living in rural communities where menstrual hygiene materials are often scarce or unaffordable.
According to her, despite ongoing efforts and interventions, many girls and women still struggle with poor menstrual health conditions due to economic hardship, limited availability of products and sociocultural barriers.
The governor’s wife noted that the inability to access sanitary products continues to affect the education, confidence and emotional well-being of many young girls.
She explained that when girls lack proper menstrual hygiene materials, it often leads to school absenteeism and negatively impacts their overall development.
Ododo commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for donating 10,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Kogi State under the “Flow With Confidence” initiative of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
She stated that the intervention had eased the financial burden on many beneficiaries and would support their menstrual hygiene needs for an extended period.
The Kogi First Lady also encouraged young girls to remain committed to their education, describing female education as a vital tool for empowerment, independence and social advancement.
She further called for sustained investment in programmes and policies that promote the welfare, education and health of women and girls across the country.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually to raise awareness about menstrual health and encourage the inclusion of menstrual hygiene management in public policies and development programmes globally.