Five hundred secondary school girls from Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency benefited from a menstrual hygiene awareness and support outreach organised by the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Tagged “Understanding Menstruation,” the sensitisation programme held at Grooves Memorial Methodist Church, Ikot Ekpene, and brought together participants from Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara and Essien Udim Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman, Board of Trustees of GIFA, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, described period poverty as a silent challenge affecting the confidence, education and future of many young girls.
Addressing the beneficiaries and church members, Lady Obareki said menstruation is a natural and healthy part of womanhood that should never be surrounded by shame, fear or stigma. She stressed that proper education and access to sanitary materials are essential in helping girls manage their menstrual health with dignity and confidence.
She encouraged the girls to speak openly about menstruation, ask questions, and seek guidance whenever necessary, noting that knowledge about their bodies empowers them to live confidently and without fear.
Lady Obareki also charged teachers, guardians and caregivers to create safe spaces where girls can freely discuss menstrual health without embarrassment. She said society must replace myths and silence with accurate medical information and practical support.
She explained that beyond distributing sanitary materials, GIFA’s intervention was focused on equipping the girls with knowledge on menstrual hygiene management, healthy living and self-confidence throughout their menstrual cycle.
The First Lady Designate commended Oluremi Tinubu for supporting the distribution of sanitary pads to school girls nationwide through the Renewed Hope Initiative’s “FLOW With Confidence” campaign, and also praised Umo Eno for prioritising education, healthcare and the welfare of women and children through the ARISE Agenda.
Earlier, GIFA Team Lead, Pastor Anne Abraham, said the outreach, under the initiative’s women empowerment thematic area, provided the 500 girls with a year’s supply of sanitary pads, personal hygiene products and educational materials.
The event featured health talks led by medical doctor Esther Udoudom, who educated the girls on puberty, menstrual hygiene, proper use and disposal of sanitary pads, and personal care during menstruation. Discussions also covered safe and unsafe touch, prevention of early pregnancy, and the use of period trackers to monitor menstrual cycles.
The Methodist Archbishop of the Ikot Ekpene Archdiocese of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rev. Etim Ekong, commended Lady Obareki for organising what he described as an impactful programme focused on educating and empowering young girls while restoring confidence and dignity.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Inibehe Silas Etukudo, described the intervention as timely and significant, noting that the knowledge gained by the girls would ripple through their homes and communities.
Sanitary packs were later distributed to the beneficiaries by Lady Obareki and other dignitaries as part of efforts to promote dignity, confidence and improved school attendance among adolescent girls. Three beneficiaries — Mfoniso Emem Udo, Happiness Imoh Moses and Queeneth Udeme — expressed appreciation to GIFA for the support.
By; Ikechukwu Agbamegbue, Uyo.
