Alausa Reiterates FG’s Commitment to Girls’ Education

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to girls’ education, pledging continued support for initiatives that remove barriers to learning and improve school retention among female pupils.

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance in Abuja during the flag-off of the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school materials to girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu flagged off the distribution at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, under the initiative, “Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School,” to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.

Alausa said the government considered investment in girls’ education essential to Nigeria’s development, adding that children needed quality education and adequate support to fulfil their potential.

“Investing in the education, welfare and empowerment of girls is critical to building a prosperous nation,” the minister said.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising children under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that access to quality education would help young Nigerians develop the skills needed to contribute to national development.

Alausa said removing obstacles to school attendance would enable girls to develop their abilities, pursue their ambitions and participate meaningfully in society.

He assured that the Ministry of Education would continue to support programmes that expand educational opportunities and improve learner retention, particularly for children facing barriers to schooling.

In her remarks, the First Lady said the Flow with Confidence initiative sought to protect girls’ dignity, promote menstrual health and prevent menstruation from disrupting their education.

She recalled that the Renewed Hope Initiative launched the first phase of the programme on October 2, 2025, providing a one-year supply of disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities.

Tinubu called for transparency and accountability in distributing the materials, urging those responsible for implementation to ensure that the supplies reach the intended beneficiaries.

She also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and community stakeholders to address the stigma surrounding menstruation and create an environment that enables girls to remain in school.

The First Lady further highlighted the Universal Basic Education Commission’s planned scholarship support under its Learners Retention Support Programme. The scheme initially targets 100,000 learners, with each beneficiary expected to receive a grant of N20,000.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the initiative as an important intervention to promote menstrual health and protect girls’ dignity.

She stressed that menstruation should not prevent female pupils from attending school, participating in classroom activities or achieving their academic goals.

“Menstruation should not become a barrier to school attendance, participation or achievement,” Ahmad said, urging girls to remain focused on their studies and believe in their abilities.

Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, said the commission remained committed to expanding access to quality basic education and keeping more children in school.

She identified classroom construction, the provision of learning materials, teacher development and improved water and sanitation facilities as key areas of intervention.

Garba disclosed that UBEC had supported the construction of more than 4,000 classrooms in less than three years. She added that the commission provided back-to-school materials to more than three million pupils in the preceding year.

She also cited collaboration with relevant agencies that had helped return 700,000 out-of-school children to education.

Alausa said collaboration among government institutions, families, communities and development partners remained essential to improving educational outcomes.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying sustained interventions would help expand learning opportunities and enable more Nigerian children, particularly girls, to complete their education.