The Oyo State Government, through the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), in partnership with Hershima & Partners Ltd. and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Lagos Field Office, has called on community leaders across the State to end the stigmatization of adolescent girls during their menstrual cycle.
The call was made at the closing session of a four-week step-down training and capacity-building programme on improved Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for schools and communities in Egbeda and Ona-Ara Local Government Areas. The programme, held at the Local Government Staff Training Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan, focused on equipping girls, parents, teachers, and community stakeholders with essential knowledge and skills to support menstrual hygiene.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Alhaji Babalola Afobaje, described menstrual hygiene as a fundamental aspect of human development.
“Menstruation is a natural sign of life and growth. Our girls must understand that it is nothing to be ashamed of. They deserve support, not stigma. They also need to know how to care for themselves and maintain good hygiene for healthy living,” he said.
Alhaji Afobaje noted that while the agency’s core mandate includes ending open defecation, improving menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls has become an important area of focus. He stated that the provision of separate toilet facilities for girls will be implemented gradually across the State, but awareness and education remain the most crucial steps in the immediate term. He therefore urged parents, guardians, community leaders, and schools to support adolescent girls, noting that not all menstrual cycles come without discomfort or pain.
He added that OYORUWASSA will intensify sensitization efforts to ensure girls are better understood, protected, and cared for.
The Chief Executive Officer of Hershima & Partners Ltd., Mrs. Ada Oko-Williams, explained that the workshop adopted a human-centred design approach that empowered female students to identify challenges and develop practical menstrual hygiene solutions.
“We worked with students, teachers, parents, and community leaders to co-create solutions. The girls analyzed their experiences and developed innovative ideas, such as reusable pads made from natural materials like banana fibre, communication tools for engaging boys, and mobile menstrual hygiene kits,” she said.
She highlighted children as strong agents of change, noting that many took the knowledge home to educate their families and neighbors. She also mentioned innovations created during the programme, including hot-water bottles for menstrual cramps, relaxation spaces for menstruating students, and improved communication strategies that involve boys in menstrual hygiene awareness.
In his welcome address, the General Manager Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Adeniyi Adeduntan, commended the programme for enhancing the menstrual hygiene knowledge of young girls and out-growing mothers who previously lacked adequate information. He stated that the training covered key areas such as making reusable pads, personal hygiene practices, proper washing of underwear, and recognizing physical signs that indicate the onset of menstruation.
He urged parents, especially mothers, to pay closer attention to the girl child, whom he described as “more fragile and in need of guidance.”
Students who participated also shared testimonies. Miss Abiola Opemiposi of Elekuro High School, Ona-Ara, and Miss Chidule Praise of Christ Anglican Secondary School, Egbeda, said the training improved their understanding of menstrual hygiene and boosted their confidence to educate other girls.
They identified major challenges affecting menstrual hygiene, including the high cost of sanitary pads, lack of clean toilets, inadequate water supply, and stigma caused by soaked pads.
As part of their innovative outputs, the students produced reusable and biodegradable menstrual pads, pad banks, biodegradable disposal pits, menstrual-cycle calendars, washable reusable pads, and a mobile “toilet on wheels.”
The event also featured the announcement of winning innovation schools. In Egbeda LGA, Community High School, Alarere, took first place; Christ Anglican Secondary School, Akinfenwa, came second; while Community High School, Alakia, placed third. In Ona-Ara LGA, Community High School, Oke-Ogbere, emerged first; Community High School, Sawia, came second; and Elekuro High School placed third.
Certificates and prizes were presented to outstanding participants. Community High School, Alarere, emerged the overall State winner and received a sewing machine, while Community High School, Oke-Ogbere and Community High School, Sawia, came second and third respectively.
The ceremony concluded with a song composed and performed by the students, titled “My Period is My Pride,” emphasizing that menstruation is natural, clean, and a symbol of womanhood.
Oyo State ICT
November 14, 2025
