The Wife of the Kogi governor, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo, has called on stakeholders to intensify efforts toward making menstrual hygiene products more accessible and affordable for girls and women across the country.
Ododo made the call in a statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja to commemorate the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
She noted that access to sanitary products had become critical, particularly for girls and women in rural communities who faced limited availability of menstrual hygiene materials.
The governor’s wife expressed concern over the poor state of menstrual health in the country despite ongoing interventions aimed at improving access to sanitary products.
According to her, the challenge is driven by poor economic conditions, limited availability of sanitary products, and sociocultural barriers affecting menstrual hygiene management.
Ododo reiterated the importance of menstrual hygiene products, noting that lack of access had far-reaching consequences, especially for young girls.
“When these items are unavailable to our girls, it keeps them out of school and negatively affects their social and emotional well-being,” she said.
She commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for the donation of 10,000 sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Kogi under the “Flow With Confidence” project of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
According to her, the intervention has significantly reduced the financial burden on beneficiaries for up to one year.
Ododo also urged young girls to remain focused on their education and called for sustained investment in the education of women and girls as a tool for economic empowerment and social emancipation.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually to promote awareness and encourage policy dialogue on the integration of menstrual hygiene management into national and local policies and programmes.
