Abayomi Susan
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, Nigeria.
This effort was inspired by Polaris Bank’s 2025 International Women’s Day celebration and is a key component of our ongoing Adolescent Health and Hygiene Support Programme.
The outreach aims to improve menstrual hygiene education, through the Bank’s Girl-Child Support and Hygiene Education Initiative, build confidence and dignity among young girls, and reduce school absenteeism resulting from lack of access to sanitary products.
At the event, Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi, Polaris Bank’s Group Head of Customer Experience & Value Management, gave a practical health talk to the grils. She emphasised to the girls the critical importance of menstrual hygiene and overall personal care 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.
“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.” “Your body is precious, and how you take care of it determines your confidence and wellbeing,” Mrs. Oluyadi told the students.
She encouraged the girls to cultivate life-long healthy habits, be informed about their bodies, and also speak confidently about their health needs.
Mrs. Subulade Giwa-Amu, a Non-Executive Director at Polaris Bank, was also present. She inspired the girls with a motivational session dedicated to self-care, building confidence, and positive self-presentation.
During her talk, she underscored the significant role that personal hygiene and presentation play in shaping a successful future.
“Success is not only about your academic performance; it is also about how you present yourself. “A clean girl equals a successful woman,” Mrs. Giwa-Amu affirmed. People see you before they know you, and first impressions always last longer. 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 affirmed.
“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.
Polaris Bank holds that consistent investment in girls’ well-being is key to unlocking equal opportunity, reducing dropout rates, and driving lasting socio-economic progress.
Lack of hygiene products often prevents girls from attending school; this initiative directly addresses that challenge to support their education.
Polaris Bank is helping to normalize conversations around menstruation, reduce stigma, and support healthier outcomes for young girls, by equipping students with knowledge and materials.
