Senator (Dr) Sharafadeen Alli has launched a two-day initiative educating girl children on safe sexual life and hygienic menstrual management, reaching about 10,000 students across Ibarapa communities in Oyo State.
The sensitisation exercise held on Feb. 2 and 3 covered seven schools located in Tapa, Ayete, Igangan, Idere, Igboora, Eruwa and Lanlate towns in the Ibarapa zone of Oyo State.
The programme ‘Flow with Dignity School Tour Season Three’ was organised by the senator with Women for Greater Good Foundation, in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and FIDA partners, a nationwide awareness drive.
The initiative recorded participation of health professionals and women leaders of the APC, who provided counselling, shared experiences and offered practical guidance on personal hygiene as well as adolescent reproductive health matters.
Participants were advised against immoral practices, encouraged to embrace self-worth and educated on the consequences of unsafe behaviour, as facilitators played motherly roles in nurturing confidence and dignity among students.
Senator Alli also distributed sanitary pads to female students, stressing the importance of clean menstrual management, improved school attendance and protection of young girls’ health during their monthly cycle periods statewide.
The school tour spanned all three local governments in the Ibarapa Zone, with visible representation from Ibarapa North, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa East areas of Oyo South Senatorial district coverage.
Schools visited included Adegun Asake Grammar School, Igangan; Tapa Community High School; Ayete Grammar School; Oke-Idere High School; Lajorun High School, Igboora; Baptist School, Eruwa; and Onitabo High School, Lanlate.
The programme aimed to empower adolescent girls with accurate information, practical skills and resources needed to manage menstruation confidently, promoting health, dignity and uninterrupted education within school environments across Ibarapa.
Community leaders and parents praised the intervention, describing it as timely and impactful, while expressing optimism that the initiative would strengthen girl-child welfare, education and health outcomes in Ibarapa land.
