The Ondo State Government has distributed 5,000 sanitary towels and equipped hundreds of schoolgirls with digital skills as part of efforts to promote menstrual hygiene and technological empowerment among adolescent girls.
The initiative, tagged “Tech a Girl; Pad a Girl Child,” was flagged off in Akure to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Seun Osamaye, said the programme was designed to address menstrual health challenges while preparing girls to thrive in the digital age. She explained that over 1,000 students from schools in the Central Senatorial District participated in the first phase, adding that the intervention would be extended to other zones of the state.
Osamaye stressed the need for a collective effort from parents, teachers, leaders, and advocates to break gender stereotypes and give girls equal opportunities to succeed.
“Girls are not just beneficiaries of development; they are powerful drivers of change,” she said while speaking on the theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”
Guest speaker and Chairman of the Ondo State Information Technology Agency (SITA), Tomide Akinribido, engaged participants in STEM-focused sessions, including data analysis, graphic design, and ICT training. He said the state government’s vision is to ensure that girls are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Also speaking, a board member of the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, Hon. Patience Arinola Adamolekun, educated the students on menstrual hygiene and self-care. She encouraged them to track their cycles confidently and urged boys to support their female classmates rather than stigmatize them during their monthly periods.
Over 18 schools from the three senatorial districts participated in the event, which featured interactive sessions on menstrual health and digital literacy.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, who performed the official flag-off, reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in children’s education and welfare. He described the programme as a strategic step toward building confident and empowered young women in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries applauded the state government for the initiative and pledged to put the knowledge gained into practice.
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