By Joy Onu
As the world marks International Women’s Day, the Child and Youth Protection Foundation (CYPF) extended warm felicitations to women across Nigeria and around the world, celebrating their resilience, sacrifices, and contributions to building stronger families and communities.
Speaking in commemoration of the day, Kolawole Olatosimi, National Coordinator of CYPF, said the organisation remains committed to advocating for girls and supporting women through initiatives that promote education, dignity, and equal opportunities.
According to him, empowering girls through education, mentorship, health awareness, and providing the essentials they need for healthy living is crucial to raising confident women who will contribute meaningfully to society.
“Today, we celebrate women everywhere for their strength, compassion, and dedication to nurturing the next generation,” Olatosimi said. “At CYPF, our work continues to focus on supporting girls because when girls are educated, empowered, and healthy, they grow into women who transform communities and nations.”
He noted that the organisation’s programmes in schools across the Federal Capital Territory are part of its broader commitment to improving the lives of girls through health education, mentorship, and leadership training.
Recently, CYPF trained girls from 11 secondary schools as menstrual hygiene ambassadors under its Ambassadors of Menstrual Hygiene programme, equipping them with practical skills to manage their menstrual cycles, support their peers, and challenge the stigma often associated with menstruation. Teachers in the participating schools were also trained to mentor and guide the ambassadors, providing resources, promoting stigma-free environments, and engaging boys appropriately, all of which help the ambassadors build confidence and ensure that menstruation is recognised and treated as a normal part of life.
The organisation has also supported many government schools in the FCT with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and sanitary pad banks, ensuring that girls have safe, hygienic spaces to manage their menstrual health and helping reduce school absenteeism linked to menstrual discomfort.
As part of its global advocacy for women and girls, CYPF also hosts its Uncensored Podcast, a platform that encourages open conversations about issues affecting women and young girls. For the 2026 International Women’s Day commemoration, the podcast featured a special episode themed “Give to Gain” which aligns with the official theme for International Women’s Day 2026, bringing together two women from different generations to discuss mentorship, girls’ education, menstrual hygiene, empowerment, career guidance, and the broader development of girls into confident, empowered women.
Olatosimi noted that such conversations help amplify women’s voices while encouraging intergenerational dialogue on the importance of investing in girls.
“When we support girls through education, health awareness, mentorship and support, we are shaping the future,” he said. “Empowered girls grow into empowered women who will build stronger communities and a better world for all.”
