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- Advocates puberty, menstrual hygiene education
By Henry Uche, Lagos
Jewels of Africa Foundation over the weekend distributed sanitary pads to over 2000 school girls in Epe Girls Senior High School, and Ogunmodede Senior College, Epe in Lagos State.
The President/Founder of the Foundation, Mrs Lara Oderinde-Gureje, and her team carried out this gesture in commemoration of 2024 International Menstrual Hygiene Day,.
Lara Oderinde-Gureje used the occasion to advocate for puberty and menstrual hygiene education and management for young adolescents both at home and in their schools as it ought to be.
According to her, one does not need to wait or depend on the government to provide for every need of school children even now that the country is going through tough times.
“Menstrual health is critical for our girls. We don’t need to wait for the government or the big institutions to do everything in respect to our education sector. I believe if we get the education system right, we can get governance right, we can get the economy right, we can get the security right and every other thing would be right too.
“For me, education is the solution to most of the problems we have in this country. In our little way, we can do something to help this country. I don’t need to be Dangote before I can do something meaningful to help mankind. What you need is not money majorly, but the willingness and desire to help one another, once this is in place, the provisions would come”
She advised that commissioners of education in every State of the federation should be people with experience, people whose children must have passed through the public schools and understand the structure of public schools. This, she said would enable them to make informed decisions, make better plans and design sound policies to boost public schools.
She implored government to show seriousness with individuals and corporate organizations who are willing to help them (the government) to develop the state or federation, by eliminating bottlenecks and other forms of red tape in the process, noting that unnecessary bureaucratic procedure could discourage men and women who intends to offer help to the people, but needed to pass through some government agencies.
“Government must be ready and willing to work with individuals and private sector and remove all manner of red-tapism. Because we all are part of the solutions to the problem of Nigeria. Ask yourself, what can I do to make Nigeria better, we all can do something to make the country a better place for all of us”
She who solicited improved welfare of teachers equally admonished students to raise their heads high and let their academic results show their readiness to study, noting that the monetary part of education is the easiest path of the journey.
“Teachers should be encouraged. We want to let students know that there is help for them. There are people who are interested in their education and personal life advancement. This is our 10th year in the country, we have visited 12 states and we hope to touch other states” she assured.
