Polaris Bank has reinforced its commitment to empowering the Nigerian girl-child through a focused health education and support initiative across several Lagos schools. The Bank successfully distributed essential female hygiene products and conducted practical health sessions for students at Kuramo and Victoria Island Junior and Senior Secondary Schools.
This outreach is a continuation of Polaris Bank’s 2025 International Women’s Day commemoration and forms a crucial part of its ongoing Adolescent Health and Hygiene Support Programme. The core aim of this Girl-Child Support and Hygiene Education Initiative is to enhance menstrual health literacy, cultivate self-confidence and dignity among young female students, and ultimately reduce school absenteeism often caused by a lack of access to fundamental sanitary products.
During the event, Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi, the Group Head of Customer Experience & Value Management at Polaris Bank, engaged the girls in a comprehensive health talk. Her session underscored the necessity of rigorous personal hygiene, both during the menstrual cycle and in their everyday lives. Mrs. Oluyadi provided specific advice on critical self-care practices, including the correct usage and disposal of sanitary pads, the importance of wearing clean underwear daily, and maintaining excellent body hygiene, such as using deodorants and regular washing, especially as their bodies navigate the changes of puberty.
“Your body is precious, and how you take care of it determines your confidence and wellbeing,” Mrs. Oluyadi advised the students. She stressed that good hygiene extends beyond merely appearing clean, defining it as a foundation for staying healthy, feeling comfortable, and showing up confidently in academic and social settings. She further encouraged the young girls to embrace lifelong healthy habits, seek knowledge about their bodies, and feel empowered to discuss their health needs openly.
Adding a motivational dimension to the initiative, Mrs. Subulade Giwa-Amu, a Non-Executive Director of Polaris Bank, delivered a powerful session focused on self-care, personal presentation, and building confidence.
Mrs. Giwa-Amu reinforced the connection between self-respect and future success, asserting, “A clean girl equals a successful woman.” She elaborated that success is multifaceted, encompassing not only academic performance but also how one presents oneself to the world. She reminded the students that first impressions are crucial and that caring for oneself should become a daily, non-negotiable habit.
“Confidence starts with knowing who you are and being proud of yourself,” Mrs. Giwa-Amu stated. “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 Nigerian girl-child is intrinsically linked to its wider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability strategy. The bank believes that investing in girls’ education, access to essential resources, and social support systems directly improves their health outcomes and academic performance. This sustained investment is viewed as a vital catalyst for reducing school dropout rates, ensuring equal opportunity, and driving long-term socio-economic development within Nigeria. By providing both the knowledge and the materials, the initiative aims to address practical barriers to school attendance and help to normalise discussions around female health.
