P&G moves to reduce girls’ absenteeism in schools through training

Procter & Gamble Company, American multinational consumer goods corporation operating in Nigeria has moved to reduce girls’ absenteeism in schools through provision of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) education.

One of such moves was a programme held at the Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja described as a significant intervention targeted at enhancing girls’ knowledge and prac

tice around reproductive health through life skills training, provision of emergency sanitary kits and mobilization of stakeholders’ support for Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for girls in schools.

Director, Government Relations and Public Policy Africa at Procter & Gamble, Temitope Iluyemi in her opening remarks said: ‘Study reveals that girls’ confidence drop dramatically during puberty – and their first period is the time when their confidence is lowest. Always has made it a mission to empower young girls and women to live life without limits through various programs such as the Always Keeping Girls in School Program, to boost the confidence of young girls and inspire them to achieve their dreams.”

Speaking on the successes and learnings from the program, Country Director of Mercy Corps said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Procter and Gamble on the Always Keeping Girls In School (AKGIS) Project, as part of our larger Educating Nigerian Girls In New Enterprises (ENGINE) II programme, which has led to increased knowledge of menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in the Federal Capital Territory, increased access to sanitary pads and WASH facilities for girls when in school, as well as improved counselling and psychosocial support for girls during menstruation. These in turn have led to improved attendance of girls in school and positive behavior change among stakeholders towards improved learning outcomes for marginalized girls. We hope that the outcomes of this project will lead to more interventions to reach other adolescent girls and provide additional support for WASH facilities to facilitate girls’ attendance and completion in school.”

As part of its Citizenship efforts to be a force for good and growth, P&G recently announced a new commitment to educate more than 23 million adolescent girls on puberty and hygiene across the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa ( IMEA) region.

Since commencing operations in Nigeria in 1992, P&G has invested millions of dollars in investments including a manufacturing site located in Ibadan, Oyo State as well as a world class distribution center in Agbara, Ogun State respectively.

The ceremony at the Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja recently was attended by Soraya Hakuziyaremye, the Minister of Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Rwanda and Scholar Gbasha, Consultant to, Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Education Projects amongst a host of other top dignitaries and key stakeholders.