The Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro, in collaboration with the Rotary E-Club of Ikoyi Metro Elite, has organised the Pad-a-Girl Project at Ireti Senior Grammar School, Ikoyi, Lagos, to promote menstrual hygiene, empower schoolgirls and encourage confidence among adolescent girls.
The initiative, held on October 28, 2026, at 10 a.m., featured the distribution of sanitary pads to schoolgirls alongside an educational session on menstrual health, personal hygiene and the importance of managing menstruation safely and confidently.
Also read: SSANU shuts Sokoto varsity over unpaid allowances
The project is designed to address challenges faced by girls during their menstrual periods, particularly access to sanitary products and adequate information about menstrual health.
It also seeks to promote dignity, improve school attendance and equip girls with the knowledge they need to manage menstruation without fear, embarrassment or stigma.
Speaking during the programme, the project committee chairperson, Rotarian Adenike Akinyemi of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro, said the initiative was borne out of concern for the welfare and well-being of the girl child.
According to her, the project goes beyond distributing sanitary pads, as it also seeks to educate girls on personal hygiene and reassure them that menstruation is a natural part of growing up.
She encouraged the girls not to feel ashamed of their periods or allow anyone to make them feel inferior because of menstruation.
She added that providing sanitary pads and educating the girls on their proper use would help them manage their menstrual periods with greater confidence.
Also speaking, the Service Projects Chair of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro, Rotarian Gabriel Opo, described the initiative as an opportunity for the organisation to give back to society while addressing important health and educational needs.
He explained that the project aligns with Rotary’s areas of focus on Basic Education and Literacy, as well as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Opo urged the schoolgirls to maintain good personal hygiene during menstruation by using sanitary pads appropriately, bathing regularly and keeping themselves clean.
He emphasised that menstruation should not be treated as a source of shame but as a natural process that requires proper care and understanding.
In her remarks, the President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro, Rotarian Anita Ogechukwu, said the programme was intended to equip the girls with practical knowledge about menstruation and help them remain confident during their periods.
She explained that the sanitary pads distributed during the exercise were intended to support the beneficiaries for at least one month, while the accompanying awareness session would help them make informed decisions about their menstrual health.
Ogechukwu encouraged the girls to understand that menstruation is a natural and healthy process and to learn how to manage it effectively without allowing it to interfere with their education and everyday activities.
The President of the Rotary E-Club of Ikoyi Metro Elite, Rotarian Funmi Kamakira, also urged the girls to remain focused on their ambitions despite the challenges and distractions they might encounter in life.
She encouraged them to embrace the values of the Rotary Four-Way Test, which promotes truthfulness, consideration for others, fairness and the building of goodwill and better friendships.
According to her, the lessons imparted during the programme were intended not only to improve menstrual hygiene awareness but also to inspire the girls to become responsible, confident and determined individuals.
The Pad-a-Girl Project reflects the participating Rotary clubs’ commitment to community service and the well-being of adolescent girls.
By combining the distribution of sanitary products with menstrual hygiene education, the initiative seeks to address practical needs while challenging the stigma that often surrounds menstruation.
Also read: SSANU shuts Sokoto varsity over unpaid allowances
The programme reinforces the importance of ensuring that girls have access to essential menstrual products, accurate information and supportive environments in which they can continue their education and pursue their aspirations with dignity and confidence.
