WHEN SCHOOL GIRLS LEARN, THE WORLD CHANGES IN ILAWO
. As Olori Fashola-MacGregor Mentors 200 School Girls on Menstrual Health & Hygiene
Three days to Valentine's Day, the queen of Orile Ilawo Kingdom, Her Royal Majesty, Ambassador (Dr) Omolara Fashola-MacGregor has led the charge for the preservation of the right of the girl-child through an awareness and mentorship initiative primarily designed for the promotion of menstrual health and hygiene in tennage girls.
The initiative, code named 'Project Reddot' in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, Vweta Chadwick Empowerment Foundation is a community-driven initiative focussed on empowering tennage girls aged 13 to 19 with vital knowledge, mentorship and access to essential menstrual hygiene resources.
The event which held on Wednesday 11th February 2026 at the Orile Ilawo Royal Palace along Oba MacGregor Road, Ilawo, Abeokuta had over 200 tennage school girls selected from neighbouring communities in attendance to create a safe, exclusive space where they learnt menstrual hygiene and health; boosted their confidence and received practical guidance on preventing teenage pregnancy.
The initiative also presented opportunity to break the silence around menstruation, confronted harmful taboos and ensured that no girl feels ashamed or excluded because of her menstrual period.
Through an engaging and culturally sensitive interactive session anchored by the NGO's Director of Organization (South)Joan Ejiro, the students were taught the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), bodily autonomy and building self-worth. The use of relatable language and open dialogue allowed the girls to ask questions freely and learn how to care for their bodies with confidence and dignity.
Speaking on motivation behind the initiative, Olori Fashola-MacGregor said she is saddened by the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies particularly among teenage girls, many of whom have suddenly become teenage mothers due to lack of access to vital information about menstrual health and hygiene.
"As a queen and as a mother, I am saddened by the menace of teenage pregnancy among school girls because they are not getting the right information about the changes in their bodies as they grow into adulthood.
She espoused her thoughts. "Education is one of the greatest gift a girl can receive. It does not only teach them how to read and write but it teaches them to think, dream and believe in themselves. Education gives them knowledge, confidence and the power to create a better future.
"When a girl goes to school, she learns her rights and understands her value. She becomes strong enough to make good decisions about her life. She gains skills that helps her support her family and contribute to society.
"Sadly, many girls around the world are still denied this opportunity. Some are forced to drop because of poverty. Some are married off too young. Some are told education is not important for girls. But when a girl is taking out of school, her dreams are also taken away.
"Menstruation is a natural part of life. It happens to every girl and woman. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Yet for many girls, their periods come with fear, discomfort and hardship.
"Some girls miss school every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Some use old clothes, tissue or unsafe materials that can cause infections. Some feel embarrassed and hide instead of asking for help. This is known as Period Poverty- when girls and women lack access to proper menstrual products, clean facilities and education about their bodies.
"Period Poverty affects education, health and confidence. When girls miss classes regularly, they fall behind in their studies. Over time, many lose interest in school or drop out completely. But this problem can be solved," Olori Fashola-MacGregor insisted.
"When girls are provided with period kits, clean toilets, and accurate information about menstruation, they attend school confidently. They participate in class, sport and leadership activities without fear. No girl should lose her education because of her period," she added. "We must talk openly about menstruation. We must support programmes that provides sanitary products. And we must create safe environment where girls feel respected and supported. Ending period poverty means protecting dignity, keeping girls in school and giving girls fair chance to succeed."
On the need to support girls and women to be career-driven and live meaningful life, Olori MacGregor posited: "Every girl has dreams inside her heart. These dreams are powerful because they shape their future. But many girls are told to limit their dreams. Some are told certain careers are only for boys. Some are told their role is only in the home. Some are discouraged when challenges arise. But girls are just as intelligent, capable and strong as any one else.
"When girls receive education, mentorship, encouragement and opportunities, they grow into confident women who can achieve great things. They learn how to set goals, work hard and overcome obstacles. Being career-driven does not forgetting family or values. It means using their talents to create a better life for themselves and others. A meaningful life is one where you contribute positively to society and live with purpose. When girls succeed, family succeed. When women succeed, communities grow and when girls are empowered, nations progress.
"We must therefore continue to inspire girls to believe in themselves, to dream boldly and to never settle for less than their potential. These are some of the narratives we hope to correct through this initiative starting from here in Ilawo. Our girls must be well informed about their menstrual health and hygiene to make informed choices about their life and dreams.
With the Valentine's Day around the corner, there is no better time to educate these girls about menstruation and personal hygiene other than now in order to stop the menace of unwanted pregnancies among our school girls especially here in Ilawo." She concluded.
Over 200 menstrual packs were freely gifted to all the girls in attendance as a form of support and encouragement to promote awareness of menstrual health and hygiene among school girls.
Among those who graced the occasion were the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye who was represented by the Director of Empowerment, Mrs. Olajumoke Adewusi; Special Adviser to Gov. Dapo Abiodun on Water Resources, Hon. Damilola Otunbanjo, who was ably represented by the Admin Officer, Mr. Hope Samson; the Osi of Ilawo Kingdom, High Chief Anthony Ajani Olufade and the Akogun of Ilawo, High Chief Wasiu Balogun and other members of Ilawo Traditional Council.
