UBEC Targets 100,000 Pupils With N2bn Scholarship Support

As part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the national distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school learning materials to girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

The flag-off ceremony for the initiative tagged “Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School” was held on Monday, at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, said the programme is a practical response to challenges that prevent girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from attending school regularly.

She said inability to afford sanitary products should never force a 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,” Garba said.

She explained that Flow with Confidence 2.0 is more than distribution of sanitary towels and learning materials, but a strategic investment in the confidence, educational attainment and future prospects of Nigerian girls.

According to her, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises education and human capital development.

Garba said the programme reflects shared commitment to addressing barriers to girl child education.

“This programme reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that the barriers to girl child education are adequately addressed in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises the education and well-being of every Nigerian child as an essential pillar of National Development,” she said.

She recalled that Senator Tinubu 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.

Under the expanded phase, beneficiaries will receive two million packs of sanitary towels alongside back-to-school materials including school bags, school shoes, exercise books, mathematics textbooks and writing materials.

Garba also announced a scholarship intervention under UBEC’s Learners Retention Support Programme, which will reach 100,000 learners in its first phase.

Each beneficiary will receive N20,000 under a total allocation of N2bn to address financial constraints affecting attendance and retention.

She highlighted UBEC’s achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda, disclosing that the Commission facilitated construction of more than 4,000 classrooms nationwide in less than three years, alongside provision of water and sanitation facilities, school materials, teacher capacity development and digital technology in public schools.

She said more than three million pupils benefited from back-to-school materials in the preceding year, while UBEC supported efforts that returned approximately 700,000 out-of-school children to the classroom.

In her address, Senator Tinubu commended UBEC and its leadership for expanding the programme to reach more schoolgirls and provide practical support to families.

She said keeping girls in school requires deliberate efforts to address challenges affecting their education, particularly in rural communities where limited access to sanitary products contributes to absenteeism.

The First Lady also announced the N2 billion scholarship support for 100,000 learners, with each receiving N20,000, and urged State First Ladies, Commissioners of Education and SUBEB Chairmen to ensure transparent and accountable distribution. She appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to help eliminate stigma surrounding menstruation.

On his part, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as another decisive step towards securing the education and future of Nigerian girls.

Also speaking, the minister of state for education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad said the initiative demonstrates Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the dignity of the girl child, promoting menstrual health and hygiene, and removing barriers to school attendance, while encouraging girls to remain focused and believe in their ability to achieve greatness.