… Calls for Free Access To Reproductive Health Information, Care 

… Mentees Applaud SPMC for Great Impacts

Anikeade Funke Treasure

 In celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, a webinar was organised by Sanitary Pad Media Campaign, SPMC on Public Speaking after MY PERIOD STORY ESSAY COMPETITION. 

In her welcome address,  the Convener, Anikeade Funke Treasure said that the topic: The Girl I am, The Change I Make: Girls on The Frontline of Crisis was meant to shape the minds of our young girls to be bold, tell their stories and dare to achieve their dreams despite all odds.

Oriyomi Pamela Sosu Otuka, Curator, National Museum of Unity. Ibadan, Oyo State, Betty Dibiah Akeredolu-Ale, CEO, BRANAMA TV, Sophie Enitan Oluwa, ED NATINEE joined the Convener to plant seeds of meaningful impacts on the young ones.

According to Funke Treasure, building great minds through mentorship is one of the goals of her organisation. 

“We believe that taking part in this programme will strengthen them to be better versions of themselves and be able to influence others positively. We are planting seeds that will germinate into becoming greater icon in future. This is why we assigned appropriate mentors to these young girls.”

Abasiekeme Eshiet, a Law student of University of Uyo is being mentored by Sophie Enitan Oluwa,  Klistivitonyon Ogunlana, Temitope Akinyinka and other undergraduates appreciated their mentors for impacting their lives meaningfully.

The students were winners from SPMC’s MY PERIOD STORY Essay Competition. Throughout the webinar, it was  session after session of quite brilliant contributions from the mentees and the mentors.

Victory Allison gave a great poem rendition on Menstrual Flow too. One big takeaway among other lessons from the webinar was that;

“Girls should never see menstruation as a thing of shame because despite all odds, Girls and women are still making it big in all spheres of human endeavours.”

This is just one of the many projects that SPMC has carried out and  the young minds were urged to make best use of mentorship opportunities. 

They were encouraged by Enitan Oluwa to be voices for the voiceless, the average girls who are vulnerable, those in war-torn countries,  idp camps, crisis areas among others. 

Above and beow pictures showing cross section of some of the participants at the webinar.

The Speakers also called for laws and policies that make access to reproductive health information and care free.

Madam Betty Dibiah Akeredolu-Ale reiterated the need for support to the less privileged,  those living with one disability or the other, to get educated and enlightened on a lot of issues. 

“Girls should know that they can actually be whatever they want to be in life and they should not be afraid to aspire and go for it.” Madam Betty Dibiah Akeredolu-Ale concluded. 

The students said the competition opened their eyes to the need to speak up regarding menstrual flow and be supportive in all areas to make such project a huge success.

Temiloluwa Ajala recounted her experience with her mentor like others and appreciated SPMC for the great initiative that has impacted many of them positively. . 

Madam Pamela Otuka also called for more investment in girls health, education and inclusion in decision-making processes while urging girls to be the voice for positive changes. She mentored Temitope Akinyinka.

It was unanimously agreed that boys and men need to be involved in this campaign in order for them to be able to manage situations better and be knowledgeable about menstrual health issues, thereby bringing better interactions and communication among the two genders.