About 500 secondary school girls in Abuja have received free sanitary towels to last for six months, as part of an initiative aimed at tackling period poverty.
The funding for the initiative was organised by the Run Club Abuja (RCA) to mark International Women’s Day 2025.
Stephanie Adamu, Secretary of the RCA Women’s Run Organising Committee and Project Coordinator of the initiative, explained that 500 women participated in the run to secure the sanitary towels for the 500 school girls.
Ms Adamu emphasised that the initiative was part of RCA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and encouraged other organisations and groups to support similar charitable initiatives.
Temitope Oguche, Founder of the Gracious Sacrificial Daughters Fellowship Foundation, a partner in the initiative, lauded the effort, noting that it would help the girls focus on their education with proper hygiene.
Michael Edoh, Principal of Junior Secondary School Nyanya II, one of the beneficiary schools, expressed excitement over the gesture, calling it a relief for both the girls and their parents, especially in light of the current economic hardship.
He urged that such initiatives be extended to all students at the school and other schools in underprivileged communities.
Gloria Apeh, Gender Desk Officer, echoed her Principal’s sentiment, disclosing that there had been instances wherein students suddenly started experiencing their periods during class, and teachers had to provide sanitary towels where none were available.
Zainab Ibrahim, a beneficiary from Government Secondary School Garki, expressed gratitude for the donation of the pads, saying her parents usually bought sanitary towels for her and two siblings. She added that this donation would provide a welcome relief, allowing her family to use their resources for other essential needs.
Another beneficiary, Blessing Udeh, also expressed her appreciation for the gesture, and called for the initiative to be extended across Abuja so that more girls could benefit.
Other schools in Abuja that benefited from the distribution of the sanitary towels include; GSS Maitama, GSS Jabi and GSS Gwarimpa.
