Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL) has distributed 12-month sanitary packs to 1000 secondary school girls in Akwa Ibom State.
The event took place at the Southern Annang Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Okoro, Oruk Anam Local Government Area, and Community Secondary School, Afia Nsit Urua Nko, Nsit Ibom LGA.
To fight child trafficking in Akwa Ibom through a storytelling approach, OERL also donated 1500 copies of the state-approved literature for Junior WAEC entitled: The Abandoned and other stories” to JSS3-500 students to aid awareness creation and prevention of child trafficking.”
OERL Managing Director, Mr. Mustafa Indimi, the programme was aimed at reducing period poverty, improving health, and promoting gender equality in education in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 4 to mark the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child.
Indimi who was represented by the Head Community and Government Relations, Oriental Energy Dr. Uwem Ite, said the firm believes in empowering girls with education.
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He stressed that investing in girls helps them make positive impacts on their families, communities, and society in general.
“Studies in developing countries have shown that due to a variety of reasons, 1 in 5 girls are not able to complete junior secondary education, 4 in 10 girls not able complete senior secondary school,” he said.
“This has significant negative impacts on their ability to tap into prospects and opportunities that require formal education and certification.”
On her part Mrs Aniedi Etim, Founder of the Aniedi Etim Foundation noted that “Evidently, menstrual poverty is a nightmare affecting the female gender, leaving boys to have limitless educational opportunities.
“This is a huge gender issue as menstrual poverty is a direct threat to gender equality, reproductive health, and well-being. Menstruation is a human right, and no girl should have to trade her body or miss school because of lack of menstrual products,” she said.
The principals and students of the schools pledged to imbibe the lessons from the outreach to improve their lives.
The state commissioner for Health Professor Augustine Umoh and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment commended the firm for the programme.
