WorldStage— The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to removing barriers to girls’ education, as First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, flagged off the national distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school learning materials to girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The initiative, tagged “Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School,” was launched on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of activities commemorating the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
Speaking at the national flag-off ceremony, the UBEC Executive Secretary described the intervention as a practical response to the challenges that prevent girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from attending school regularly and participating fully in the learning process.
She stressed that the inability to afford sanitary products should never force a girl to miss school or compromise her dignity, noting that addressing such challenges was essential to improving school attendance, learner retention and educational outcomes.
“This programme reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that the barriers to girl child education are adequately addressed in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises the education and well-being of every Nigerian child as an essential pillar of National Development,” Dr. Garba stated.
Garba commended the First Lady, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, for their commitment to advancing girls’ education and supporting the education priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our message is clear: no girl child should have to choose between her dignity and her education,” Dr. Garba said.
She explained that Flow with Confidence 2.0 goes beyond the distribution of sanitary towels and learning materials, representing a strategic investment in the confidence, educational attainment and future prospects of Nigerian girls.
According to her, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education and human capital development as essential drivers of national progress.
The Executive Secretary commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her longstanding advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment, noting that her interventions through the Renewed Hope Initiative had helped address challenges confronting schoolgirls, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.
Dr. Garba recalled that the First Lady launched the original Flow with Confidence programme on October 2, 2025, providing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities nationwide. She described UBEC’s expansion of the programme as a significant step towards reaching more beneficiaries and strengthening efforts to keep girls in school.
Highlighting UBEC’s achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Garba disclosed that the Commission had facilitated the construction of more than 4,000 classrooms nationwide in less than three years, alongside the provision of water and sanitation facilities, school materials, teacher capacity development and digital technology in public schools.
She further revealed that more than three million pupils benefited from back-to-school materials in the preceding year, while UBEC, in collaboration with relevant agencies and stakeholders, had supported efforts that returned approximately 700,000 out-of-school children to the classroom.
The Executive Secretary noted that these interventions reflected the Commission’s commitment to translating government policies into tangible improvements in the learning environment, expanding access to education and providing children with better opportunities to succeed.
Under Flow with Confidence 2.0, girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the FCT will receive two million packs of sanitary towels alongside back-to-school materials, including school bags, school shoes, exercise books, mathematics textbooks and writing materials.
Dr. Garba also highlighted the planned scholarship intervention under UBEC’s Learners Retention Support Programme, which is expected to reach 100,000 learners in its first phase. Each beneficiary is expected to receive a grant of ₦20,000, under a total allocation of ₦2 billion, to help address financial constraints affecting school attendance and retention.
She called on state governments, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, teachers and development partners to support transparent and accountable implementation, ensuring that the interventions reach the intended beneficiaries.
In her address, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commended UBEC and its leadership for expanding the Flow with Confidence programme to reach more schoolgirls and provide practical support to families.
She noted that keeping girls in school required deliberate efforts to address challenges affecting their education, particularly in rural communities where limited access to sanitary products could contribute to absenteeism.
She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that Nigerian girls could pursue their education with dignity, confidence and the support necessary to fulfil their potential.
The First Lady also announced the planned scholarship support under UBEC’s Learners Retention Support Programme, targeting 100,000 learners in its first phase, with each beneficiary expected to receive ₦20,000.
She urged State First Ladies, Commissioners of Education and SUBEB Chairmen to ensure transparent and accountable distribution, while appealing to traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to help eliminate the stigma surrounding menstruation. Senator Tinubu subsequently performed the national flag-off of the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school learning materials.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as another decisive step towards securing the education and future of Nigerian girls.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing the Nigerian child at the centre of national development, noting that the administration’s education reforms were designed to widen access to learning and address the barriers preventing children, particularly girls, from completing their education.
Alausa also applauded the First Lady for her sustained advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment, while acknowledging the contributions of the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the UBEC leadership and other stakeholders.
He urged students to take advantage of the opportunities created through government interventions, remain committed to their studies and prepare to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the initiative as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the dignity of the girl child, promoting menstrual health and hygiene, and removing barriers to school attendance.
She commended the First Lady, the Minister of Education and UBEC leadership for their contributions, while encouraging girls to remain focused, work hard and believe in their ability to achieve greatness.
Garba assured Nigerian girls, parents and stakeholders that UBEC would sustain its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, SUBEBs and development partners to ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda translates into tangible educational opportunities for every child.
She reiterated that the Commission would continue to strengthen school infrastructure, provide essential learning resources, support teacher development and implement targeted interventions to improve enrolment, attendance and retention, particularly among vulnerable learners.
Addressing the beneficiaries, she said: “To our beautiful daughters, your dreams matter, your voices matter, and your future deserves every opportunity we can give you.”
The Executive Secretary reaffirmed that UBEC would continue to work towards ensuring that no Nigerian girl is denied an education because of poverty, menstrual hygiene challenges or other preventable barriers, stressing that keeping girls in school remains a shared national responsibility and a critical investment in Nigeria’s human capital development.
