The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping Nigerian girls in school through the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school learning materials to pupils 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 officially launched on Monday, October 12, 2026, by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.

Speaking at the ceremony, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, said the intervention was designed to address barriers preventing girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from attending school regularly and participating fully in the learning process.

Garba said the programme aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education, human capital development and the well-being of Nigerian children.

She commended the First Lady, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, for their commitment to advancing girls’ education and supporting the Federal Government’s education reforms.

According to her, the inability to afford sanitary products should not force any girl to miss school or compromise her dignity.

“Our message is clear: no girl child should have to choose between her dignity and her education,” she said.

The UBEC chief explained that the programme went beyond the distribution of sanitary towels and school materials, describing it as a strategic investment in the confidence, educational attainment and future prospects of Nigerian girls.

Under the initiative, beneficiaries will receive sanitary towels alongside back-to-school materials, including school bags, school shoes, exercise books, mathematics textbooks and writing materials.

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 the expansion of the initiative as a significant step towards reaching more girls and strengthening efforts to improve school attendance and retention.

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.

She added that the Commission had also supported the provision of water and sanitation facilities, learning materials, teacher capacity development and digital technology in public schools.

According to her, more than three million pupils benefited from back-to-school materials in the preceding year, while approximately 700,000 out-of-school children had been supported in returning to the classroom through collaborative efforts involving relevant agencies and stakeholders.

The Executive Secretary further announced a planned scholarship intervention under UBEC’s Learners Retention Support Programme, which is expected to benefit 100,000 learners in its first phase.

Each beneficiary is expected to receive ₦20,000, bringing the total allocation for the intervention to ₦2 billion.

She explained that the financial support was intended to ease economic difficulties affecting school attendance and retention, particularly among vulnerable learners.

Garba called on state governments, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, teachers and development partners to support the transparent and accountable implementation of the programmes.

In her remarks, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commended UBEC and its leadership for expanding the initiative to reach more schoolgirls and provide practical assistance to families.

She observed that keeping girls in school required deliberate efforts to address challenges affecting their education, particularly in rural and underserved communities where limited access to sanitary products could contribute to absenteeism.

The First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that Nigerian girls could pursue their education with dignity, confidence and the support needed to fulfil their potential.

She also urged State First Ladies, commissioners of education and SUBEB chairmen to ensure that the interventions reached the intended beneficiaries, while calling on traditional and religious leaders to help eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation.

Tinubu subsequently performed the national flag-off of the distribution of the two million packs of sanitary towels and learning materials.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the programme as another decisive step towards securing the education and future of Nigerian girls.

He commended President Tinubu for placing the Nigerian child at the centre of national development, noting that the administration’s education reforms were designed to expand access to learning and address barriers preventing children, especially girls, from completing their education.

Alausa also praised the First Lady for her sustained advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment, acknowledging the contributions of the Minister of State for Education, UBEC leadership and other stakeholders.

He urged students to take advantage of government interventions, remain committed to their studies and prepare to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the initiative as evidence 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 roles in advancing the initiative, while encouraging girls to remain focused, work hard and believe in their ability to achieve their aspirations.

Garba assured Nigerian girls, parents and other stakeholders that UBEC would sustain its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, SUBEBs and development partners to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible educational opportunities.

She reiterated the Commission’s commitment to strengthening school infrastructure, providing essential learning resources, supporting teacher development and implementing targeted interventions to improve enrolment, attendance and retention, particularly among vulnerable learners.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the UBEC Executive Secretary said: “To our beautiful daughters, your dreams matter, your voices matter, and your future deserves every opportunity we can give you.”

She stressed that ensuring no Nigerian girl was denied an education because of poverty, menstrual hygiene challenges or other preventable barriers remained a shared national responsibility and a critical investment in the country’s human capital development.