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| L–R: Clerk of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs Victoria Yakubu; Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Dr Mercy Kwabe; Women Leader, Durumi Area 1 IDP Camp, Mrs Liyatu Ayuba; Convener, Pad Me A Girl Initiative, Theresa Moses; and Abuja Branch Team Leader, Mrs Blessing Amos, during the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child celebration in Abuja. |
The Pad Me A Girl Initiative, in partnership with the Senate Committee on Women Affairs (SCOWAS) and Access Bank, on Monday, October 13, 2025, hosted a celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child at the Area 1 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Durumi, Abuja.
An initiative of Gatmash Media, the project seeks to bring hope, empowerment, and essential support to hundreds of vulnerable girls and women.
The event brought together hundreds of internally displaced girls and women, alongside top government officials, lawmakers, civil society actors, media representatives, and corporate partners, all united by a single goal: to amplify the voices of girls in crisis and champion menstrual health, dignity, and equal opportunity.
In her welcome address, Theresa Moses, Convener of Pad Me A Girl Initiative and CEO of Gatmash Media, expressed gratitude to partners and stressed the urgent need for sustainable action to break barriers facing young girls.
“This year’s theme, ‘The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,’ reminds us that girls are not just victims of crisis but resilient leaders, change-makers, and symbols of hope.
“At Pad Me A Girl, our mission is to ensure that no girl is left behind because of her period, her circumstance, or her background,” Moses stated.
Through its Access Pad Me A Girl Pad Bank, the initiative has reached over 5,000 girls and women with reusable pads, menstrual hygiene education, and self-esteem-building sessions.
Moses shared the inspiring story of 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu from Yobe State, who was crowned World’s Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, defeating 20,000 contestants from 69 countries.
“Nafisa’s story is a reminder that brilliance can blossom anywhere, even in the most unlikely places.
“Every girl, when supported, can transform her community and her nation,” she added.
Represented by her Personal Assistant, Mrs Patricia Oyagha, Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, delivered a speech that addressed the root causes of gender inequality and health stigma in Nigeria.
“For too long, menstruation has been shrouded in silence, stigma, and misinformation.
“Silence around menstruation is not neutrality, it is neglect. And neglect has consequences,” she declared.
Senator Kingibe called for a national framework that recognises menstrual health as a matter of public health, education, and human rights.
She revealed ongoing efforts by her Committee to push for: Integration of menstrual health education into the national school curriculum, policy support for affordable and accessible menstrual products for girls in rural and underserved communities, and increased collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society organisations to drive grassroots impact.
“When we break the silence, we break the stigma. When we empower girls, we uplift communities.
“And when we invest in menstrual health, we invest in the future of our nation,” she said to a standing ovation.
She commended the Pad Me A Girl Initiative and its partners for their grassroots impact, describing their work as a bridge between government policy and lived realities.
“We cannot achieve gender equality if our girls are missing school every month because of a natural process.
Menstrual hygiene is not a privilege, it’s a necessity,” she concluded.
In her goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, represented by Mrs Mariam Fitumi Shaibu, Deputy Director, Child Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, lauded the initiative for its bold commitment to gender empowerment and inclusion.
“Today’s celebration is not just to highlight challenges but to celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of the Nigerian girl,” she stated.
She disclosed that the Ministry is actively reviewing and updating key national instruments, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015; the Child Rights Act, 2003; and the National Child Policy (2009).
In addition, the Minister announced the validation of the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, aimed at normalising menstrual conversations and ensuring nationwide access to hygiene products, facilities, and information.
“We must eliminate female genital mutilation, early child marriage, bullying, and all forms of gender-based violence.
“The future of Nigeria depends on how well we protect and empower our girls today.
“Empowering the girl child is not charity; it is nation-building,” she emphasised.
The day’s highlight featured an engaging health education session led by Mrs Blessing Amos, Abuja Team Lead of Pad Me A Girl Initiative, focusing on menstrual hygiene management, body confidence, and breaking taboos around menstruation.
This was followed by the distribution of empowerment packs, including reusable sanitary pads, exercise books, corn flour (tuwo masara), custard, and kuli-kuli, to hundreds of girls and women.
The event, which also received support from ProStar Sports International, BL Consulting, and Vita Baites Foods, ended on a note of hope, unity, and renewed commitment to girl-child education and menstrual dignity.
About Pad Me A Girl Initiative
Pad Me A Girl Initiative is a gender advocacy project under Gatmash Media, committed to promoting menstrual hygiene, reproductive health education, and girl-child empowerment.
Its Access Pad Bank has reached over 5,000 beneficiaries across Nigeria, providing reusable pads, mentorship, and health awareness in schools and communities.
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