Polaris Bank has continued its commitment to empowering the Nigerian girl-child through health education and essential support, with the successful distribution of female hygiene essentials to female students of Kuramo and Victoria Island Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Lagos.
This initiative stems from Polaris Bank’s 2025 International
Women’s Day celebration and forms part of our ongoing Adolescent Health
and Hygiene Support Programme.
Through the Bank’s Girl-Child Support and Hygiene Education
Initiative, the outreach aims to improve menstrual hygiene education,
build confidence and dignity among young girls, and reduce school
absenteeism resulting from lack of access to sanitary products.
Speaking at the event, Group Head, Customer Experience & Value
Management, Polaris Bank, Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi, delivered a practical
health talk to the girls, emphasizing the importance of maintaining
proper hygiene during their menstrual cycle and in their daily lives.
She advised the students on essential personal care practices
including the appropriate use of sanitary pads, the importance of daily
use of clean underwear, and maintaining good body hygiene with
deodorants and regular washing, especially during puberty when their
bodies are developing.
“Your body is precious, and how you take care of it determines your
confidence and wellbeing,” Mrs. Oluyadi told the students. “Good
hygiene is not just about looking clean; it is about staying healthy,
feeling comfortable, and showing up confidently in school and everywhere
you go.”
She also encouraged the girls to cultivate life-long healthy
habits, be informed about their bodies, and speak confidently about
their health needs.
Also present at the distribution was the Non-Executive Director of
Polaris Bank, Mrs. Subulade Giwa-Amu, who delivered a powerful
motivational session on self-care, confidence, and self-presentation.
In her address, she reminded the girls that taking care of their
appearance and hygiene contributes significantly to building a
successful future.
“A clean girl equals a successful woman,” Mrs. Giwa-Amu affirmed.
“Success is not only about your academic performance; it is also about
how you present yourself. People see you before they know you, and first
impressions always last. Loving yourself and caring for yourself should
be a daily habit.”
She further encouraged the students to build confidence from
within, stay self-assured, and always be conscious of their personal
hygiene as young girls stepping into womanhood.
“Confidence starts with knowing who you are and being proud of yourself,” she added.
“When you take care of your body, you build respect for yourself,
and others see that confidence reflected in how you speak, walk, and
show up in the world.”
Polaris Bank’s support for the girl-child aligns with the Bank’s
broader Sustainability and CSR strategy, which includes empowering young
girls through education, access to essential learning materials, and
social support systems that improve their health and academic
performance.
The Bank believes that sustained investment in girls’ wellbeing
ensures equal opportunity, reduces school dropout rates, and helps drive
long-term social and economic development.
The female hygiene essentials distribution initiative directly
addresses barriers that affect school attendance among adolescent girls,
especially those who lack access to basic hygiene products.
By equipping students with knowledge and materials, Polaris Bank is
helping to normalize conversations around menstruation, reduce stigma,
and support healthier outcomes for young girls.
No comments:
Post a Comment