The Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation, in collaboration with UNICEF, hosted a one-day Media Dialogue at the Ministry’s Film Theatre, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. The event, themed “Together for A Period Friendly World,” marked the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day and championed policy reforms and school-based menstrual health education.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Monday Johnson of UNICEF/WASH called for legislative action to guarantee that girls have access to safe menstrual hygiene and accurate education about their bodies. “Equipping our girls with the right knowledge from an early age is crucial,” he emphasized.
Hon. Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, celebrated the enduring partnership with UNICEF, describing it as a model for impactful collaboration. He pledged the Oyo State government’s full support for UNICEF’s mission and programs that promote the health and dignity of women and girls.
Earlier, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, urged journalists to use their platforms to challenge the taboos and myths surrounding menstruation. “Use your weapons—your pens and your voices—to combat these unnecessary myths,” he charged.
UNICEF’s Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, Aderonke Akinwole, stressed that menstruation is a natural part of life and should not isolate or shame women. “Menstruation is part of the physiology of life—it is not unclean,” she stated. Akinwole called on communities to end period stigma and to see menstruation as a normal part of being a woman. “Reaching out or praying to God during menstruation should never be seen as a barrier because God is the foundation,” she added.
The event concluded with a united call to action: integrate menstrual health education in schools, pass legislative bills to improve menstrual hygiene access, and foster a society where menstruation is seen for what it is—natural, dignified, and normal.