By Joy Onu
Eleven secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recently participated in a pioneering programme by the Child and Youth Protection Foundation (CYPF), aimed at empowering girls through menstrual hygiene management. Tagged Ambassadors of Menstrual Hygiene, the initiative seeks to equip teachers as mentors, coordinators, and guides to student ambassadors, the girls who will lead awareness campaigns in their schools.
The programme, held on February 19, 2026, at Government Secondary School, Lugbe, Abuja, comes on the heels of CYPF’s earlier outreach, which provided WASH facilities and sanitary support to several public schools across the FCT, ensuring that girls could manage their menstruation safely and hygienically. The training now focuses on teachers, strengthening their capacity to mentor girls, guide boys, and foster stigma-free school environments.
Mrs. Oluwakemi Oluwagbohun, a pharmacist and facilitator with CYPF, explained that teachers play a central role in the success of the programme. “Teachers are the guide and support system for the girls,” she said. “They must ensure girls can manage their menstrual health with dignity, without stigma, and while remaining fully engaged in their learning.” She stressed that teachers should monitor students experiencing cramps, teach proper sanitary pad disposal using incinerators or other facilities, and advocate for adequate hygiene materials and infrastructure within schools. Boys, she added, must also be included in discussions to normalise menstruation and prevent teasing.
A female teacher who attended the training described it as enlightening. She explained how the programme taught her to manage both male and female students in a way that ensures understanding and respect for menstrual health. “Boys need awareness so they don’t tease girls,” she said. “Teachers guide the girls on managing their menstruation with dignity and confidence, while also ensuring proper disposal of pads and a safe space to seek support when needed.”
Mr. Ibrahim Majiebo Sani of Junior Secondary School (JSS) Piwoyi said the training reshaped his approach as a male teacher. “Before now, I thought menstrual hygiene was only a concern for female students,” he admitted. “Now I know male teachers must actively mentor and guide the girls and educate boys to ensure a stigma-free classroom.” He highlighted that the programme also equips teachers to handle situations where girls need to leave the classroom to manage their menstruation, creating an environment where students feel supported and understood.
Mr. Sani emphasised the importance of proper facilities, noting that CYPF had already provided sanitary materials, wash facilities and an incinerator in his school. “Even with knowledge, managing menstruation is difficult without the right facilities. The support allows teachers to implement what they’ve learned effectively and gives girls confidence in managing their menstrual health safely at school,” he said.
The programme reinforced the principle that menstruation is a normal biological process and that teachers play a critical role in ensuring that girls feel free to approach them for support. By mentoring and guiding the student ambassadors, teachers are helping to build a culture of dignity, health, and confidence in schools, while also engaging boys and communities to end stigma.
With 11 schools participating, the CYPF initiative reflects a growing commitment to institutionalising menstrual hygiene education in the FCT. By combining infrastructure support, sanitary materials, and teacher mentorship, the programme aims to empower girls, reduce absenteeism linked to menstrual discomfort, and ensure a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.
