Children in Katsina State have appealed to the state government to provide schools with clean toilets, adequate water supply and affordable sanitary pads to improve menstrual hygiene and girls’ education.

The appeal was made on Saturday during the commemoration of the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Katsina, organised by Save the Children with the theme, “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”

Speaking on behalf of adolescent girls, Save the Children Girl Champion, Hafsat Abubakar-Maina, said many girls continued to face difficulties managing menstruation due to poor sanitation facilities and limited awareness.

She described menstruation as a natural biological process that should never be associated with fear, shame or stigma.

According to her, many girls begin menstruation without adequate knowledge, while harmful cultural beliefs and misinformation continue to expose them to discrimination and embarrassment.

Abubakar-Maina said the situation was worsened by the lack of functional toilets, clean water, soap and private changing spaces in many schools across the state.

She said that some girls stayed away from school during their menstrual periods because they could not afford sanitary pads or feared being ridiculed if their uniforms became stained.

According to her, this has a negative impact on girls’ education, self-confidence and future opportunities.

She further commended Save the Children and the Cuppy Foundation for equipping adolescents with knowledge on puberty, menstrual hygiene, personal health and life skills through Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health sessions.

Abubakar-Maina said the programme had also helped boys better understand menstruation, fostering respect for girls and reducing stigma in schools and communities.

She also appreciated the organisations for creating safe spaces where young people could openly discuss sensitive health issues and receive accurate information on their health and wellbeing.

Abubakar-Maina further commended the wife of the Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, for supporting initiatives aimed at promoting girls’ education and wellbeing.

Appealing to the government to make sanitary pads affordable or free for girls from low-income families, she urged development partners to sustain menstrual hygiene education across the state.

The children also called on parents, teachers, traditional and religious leaders to break the silence surrounding menstruation, challenge harmful myths and provide girls with the support they need.

“A girl’s period should never stop her from learning, playing or chasing her dreams,” Abubakar-Maina said.

In her remarks, the wife of the governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, reaffirmed the Katsina State Government’s commitment to improving the health, education and welfare of women and girls.

She described menstrual health as a public health, education, human rights and development issue that required the collective efforts of government, communities and development partners.

Radda said the government would continue to strengthen adolescent health interventions, expand access to reproductive health information and services, and improve menstrual hygiene management across the state.

She emphasised that no girl should miss school because of menstruation or suffer discrimination over a natural biological process.

The governor’s wife urged parents, teachers, healthcare providers, traditional and religious leaders to promote accurate information about menstruation and help eliminate stigma in communities.

She also acknowledged the support of the Katsina State Ministry of Health, the State Primary Health Care Agency, Save the Children and other development partners for advancing menstrual health awareness and adolescent health programmes in the state.

Radda called on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to ensuring that every girl has access to menstrual hygiene products, clean water and adequate sanitation facilities..

She also emphasised the need for comprehensive health education and an environment where menstruation should be discussed openly, respectfully and with dignity.

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The Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday marked World Play Day at Kuka Bulukiya Primary School, Kano, to promote play-based learning in schools.

The International Day of Play is celebrated every year on June 11, following its establishment by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2024. The 2026 theme is “Protect play, protect childhood”, highlighting the importance of safe, inclusive, and healthy play spaces for children worldwide.

The event brought together government officials, education stakeholders, teachers, parents and pupils, highlighting the importance of play in the holistic development of children.

UNICEF Education Programme Officer, Mr Mustafa Shehu, said the annual World Play Day, observed globally on June 11, underscores the role of play in children’s learning and growth.

“Play is not just leisure; it is a powerful tool that nurtures cognitive, emotional and physical development.

“Through such initiatives, we encourage educators and policymakers to adopt child-centred and interactive teaching approaches that make learning engaging and effective,” Shehu said.

He added that UNICEF hoped the celebration would inspire teachers to create supportive classroom environments where pupils could reach their full potential.

Chairman of Dala Local Government Area, Alhaji Surajo Imam, described the programme as timely, noting that incorporating play into education enhances children’s learning experience.

“When lessons are combined with games and recreational activities, children not only retain knowledge better but also develop critical-thinking skills, creativity and social interaction,” Imam said.

Similarly, Education Secretary of Dala Local Government, Alhaji Bala Magawata, stressed the significance of World Play Day, saying play is critical to the growth and well-being of children.

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Alhaji Musa Ali, described the occasion as a global call to action for governments, educators and parents to create learning environments that are both educational and engaging.

A parent, Mrs Aisha Labaran, expressed delight over the activities, thanking organisers for arranging events that brought joy to children while enhancing their learning experiences.

Highlights of the event included the distribution of school bags, shoes, uniforms and other learning materials to selected pupils in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) class.

Interactive and recreational activities also featured, demonstrating practical ways teachers can integrate play into lessons.

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The wife of Katsina State Governor, Zulaihat Radda, said no girl should miss school due to menstruation, intensifying efforts to promote hygiene and girls’ education across the state in the region.

Radda spoke during distribution of sanitary pads to schoolgirls under the Renewed Hope Initiative led by First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, in Katsina on Tuesday as part of major outreach programme.

She said the programme targeted challenges faced by schoolgirls, especially in rural communities, who often skipped classes due to lack of access to sanitary products and basic hygiene education support services.

Radda described the situation as unacceptable, stressing menstruation should never be a barrier to education or personal dignity for any girl in the state at any time or under any circumstances.

She urged society to ensure no girl missed classes because of menstruation, adding every girl deserved a safe and supportive learning environment to thrive and achieve her full potential without fear.

“Under the initiative, about 10,000 schoolgirls will receive a year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads as part of a nationwide intervention targeting 370,000 beneficiaries nationwide to improve menstrual health outcomes overall.”

She said the programme aimed to provide hygiene products while restoring confidence among young girls and eliminating stigma often associated with menstruation in communities through awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Radda called on local authorities to ensure effective distribution of items, urging community leaders and stakeholders to support and monitor the process for transparency and accountability across benefiting schools and communities.

She appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to partner government in expanding the initiative’s reach and sustaining support for girls’ education statewide in underserved rural and hard to reach areas.

Health Commissioner Musa Adamu-Funtua, described the initiative as timely and important for improving hygiene practices and overall well-being of young girls across the state while promoting public health outcomes for future.

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