Ondo launches digital skills, menstrual hygiene initiative for girls

Ondo state government has launched an initiative to boost digital literacy and promote menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls.

This initiative, according to the government, is designed to empower young girls and prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century. 

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state, unveiled the programme tagged ‘Tech a Girl; Pad a Girl Child’ as part of events to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.

Speaking through Seun Osamaye, the commissioner for women affairs and social development, Aiyedatiwa said the initiative was designed to bridge the gender gap in technology and address a long-standing challenge of menstrual hygiene management among girls.

“This year’s theme, ‘The Girl That I Am, The Change I Need – Girls at the Frontlines of Crisis,’ gives us the opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary strength and impact of our girls, even in the face of challenges,” he said. 

“Girls are not just beneficiaries of development; they are powerful drivers of change, creating a better and safer world for all.

“Through this digital literacy programme, we are preparing our girls to seize opportunities in technology and innovation. We are investing in their minds, their confidence, and their ability to compete and lead in the modern world.”

He said that the ‘Pad a Girl Child’ segment will focus on menstrual health and hygiene which is critical but often overlooked barrier to girls’ education.

“As part of the initiative, we’re distributing 5,000 sanitary pads to selected secondary school students across the 18 local government areas of Ondo state,” he said. 

The governor added that menstrual dignity is an essential part of empowering girls to stay in school and achieve their dreams.

 “No girl should miss school because of her menstrual cycle. Access to sanitary pads and menstrual education is a matter of dignity and equal opportunity,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He encouraged the girls present to see themselves as leaders of change, urging them to embrace learning, support one another, and reject limiting stereotypes.

“To every girl here today, I want you to know this ‘you are loved, you are strong, you are valuable, and you are capable of leading change,” he added. 

“Embrace learning, lead with kindness, and never let fear or doubt stop you from dreaming big. Your gender is not a limitation, it is a strength that carries grace, wisdom, and resilience.”

In his keynote address, Tomide Akinribido, the chairman of the Ondo state information technology agency (SITA), lauded the state government’s foresight in prioritising digital inclusion for young girls.

He described digital literacy as “the new currency of empowerment”, adding that giving girls access to technology will “open doors to innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-sufficiency”.

Flagging off the distribution of the sanitary pads, Igbekele Ajibefun, commissioner for education, said that the gesture would help eliminate absenteeism among schoolgirls and promote confidence and self-esteem.

“This is not just a health initiative. it is an educational intervention. When girls feel confident and supported, their performance in school improves, and their future prospects expand,” he said.