Nation
NAWOJ Advocates Inclusion Of Menstrual Hygiene In School Curriculum
Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ebonyi State chapter, Miss Ruth Oginyi, has advocated the inclusion of menstrual hygiene education in the nation’s school curriculum.
Oginyi made the call yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki.
She said integration of menstrual hygiene in school curriculum would enable the girl-child have information on menstrual flow and hygienic measures to take, to avoid contracting disease during menstrual cycle.
Oginyi noted that NAWOJ in conjunction with other civil society organisations had visited selected schools in Abakaliki recently to teach the adolescent female students the importance of menstrual hygiene.
She said that ignorance regarding the effective management of menstrual cycle on the part of the girl-child had led many to adopt unwholesome practices during their monthly menstrual flow.
Oginyi said that the problem could be effectively addressed when menstrual hygiene education was taught in schools as part of sex education.
“Menstrual hygiene education will lead the girls out of ignorance regarding the management of their menstrual flow.
“It will help them develop effective skills to handle this very important aspect of their sexual and reproductive lives,” she said.
Oginyi said poverty could also make the girl-child use unhygienic materials, including toilet paper, cloths and rags to control their menstrual flow, which could lead to serious infections and diseases.
The chairperson explained that NAWOJ in Ebonyi would soon unveil its full programme against gender-based violence and other challenges affecting women and the girl-child.
“We decided to join in this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated every May 28, because of the fact that menstrual hygiene is not officially included in the school curriculum.
“It is very important that government invests in menstrual hygiene because it will have a multiplier effect on girl-child education and health.
“Some of our girls, because they do not have the money to buy sanitary pads, can be lured by men in a bid to get money for the pad during their monthly flow,” she said.
The NAWOJ chairperson called for more partners in the fight for the rights, and wellbeing of women and the girl-child.
Oginyi noted that the theme for the 2021 celebration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, “Need to Step Up Action and Investment in Menstrual Health Now” was apt.
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Alliance Française PH, FIGN, Nexal Move To Eradicate GBV
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”

The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.

The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.

According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.

The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
