In celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, the Tabitha Cumi Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing menstrual health and education among adolescent girls, reaching over 1,600 girls in three states through its nationwide awareness campaign.
The foundation marked the global observance with an event in Abuja, where its Executive Director, Mrs. Adetayo Erinle, emphasized the need to break cultural taboos and promote accurate information about menstruation, especially within underserved and rural communities.
“Our mission is to ensure girls understand that menstruation is a natural part of life—one that should never be met with shame or stigma,” said Mrs. Erinle. “With education and support, girls can manage their periods with dignity and confidence, while continuing to thrive in school.”
Currently active in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, and Benue States, the foundation is engaging junior secondary school girls with essential education on puberty, menstrual hygiene, and their right to stay in school. Its flagship program, “Always Keeping Girls in School,” includes the distribution of free sanitary pads and hygiene kits to each girl for a full academic year—removing a critical barrier that often leads to absenteeism and dropout.
In a holistic approach to gender sensitivity, the foundation is also educating boys through Gender Assemblies, designed to create empathy and support for menstruating peers. “We teach boys that menstruation sustains life. Their understanding reduces teasing and builds a supportive school environment,” Mrs. Erinle added.
Inclusivity remains central to the foundation’s strategy, with tailored educational materials for girls with disabilities—Braille resources for the visually impaired, visual charts for the hearing impaired, and simplified guides for those with learning difficulties. Mrs. Erinle pointed to troubling data showing that one in four girls in marginalized areas still miss school during menstruation, underscoring the urgency of their work.
The event was attended by key education and health stakeholders. Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, commended the foundation’s enduring partnership and advocacy.
“Tabitha Cumi Foundation has not only been consistent but deeply committed to ensuring no girl is left behind,” she stated. “Their collaboration with us has evolved into a relationship built on trust, dedication, and real impact.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Safiya Tamanuwa, Deputy Director of the Placement and Gender Unit at the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), expressed optimism about the program’s long-term benefits for girls’ health and education. She applauded the foundation’s efforts to build informed, empowered young women through grassroots education and support.
Some participating students expressed gratitude to the foundation and its partners for the educational sessions and distribution of menstrual hygiene kits, describing the initiative as “life-changing.”
This year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day is themed: “End Period Poverty, Keep Girls in School,”—a message the Tabitha Cumi Foundation continues to embody through action, advocacy, and inclusion.