By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NNEWI — Fathers have been urged to take an active role in the upbringing of their daughters, particularly in guiding them through sexuality and puberty education, in order to raise confident girls capable of making informed life choices.

The call was made by Mrs. Linda Nnodiogu in a welcome address during a training programme for over 250 girls drawn from 17 public and private secondary schools in Anambra State. The event was organised by the Preserve Childhood Foundation (PCF).

The training, themed “Period with Pride, Flourish with Confidence,” was held at Abbey Hall, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, with teachers and parents in attendance.

Nnodiogu stressed that fathers who are actively involved in their daughters’ lives help build confidence and self-worth, enabling them to stand firm in their values and resist negative influences.

She also emphasized that menstrual hygiene education should not be left solely to mothers, noting that both parents have a responsibility to engage children on sensitive developmental issues.

“Sex and puberty education should be a shared responsibility between mothers and fathers. It should not be left to mothers alone,” she said.

According to her, open communication at home helps children develop trust and ensures they seek guidance from parents rather than unreliable external sources.

“Time has gone when issues of sex and puberty were hidden from children. The internet is already exposing them to information—some of which is misleading,” she added.

Nnodiogu described menstrual hygiene as a critical issue involving health, education, gender equality, child protection and human dignity, urging stakeholders to create supportive environments for girls.

She lamented that many girls still miss school due to lack of sanitary products or suffer stigma due to misinformation and cultural myths surrounding menstruation.

“This is more than an awareness programme; it is a movement for dignity, education and confidence,” she said.

Delivering a lecture titled “Menstrual Hygiene: Together for a Period Friendly World,” Dr. Ifeoma Umeh, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, decried the lack of proper menstrual education for girls.

She noted that many girls experience their first period unprepared, leading to confusion and unhealthy practices, while others are restricted by myths that treat menstruation as taboo.

Also speaking, menstrual hygiene activists Mrs. Cynthia Enweonwu Arinze and Mrs. Uche Ogalue urged women to promote open conversations about menstruation, describing it as a natural and healthy process that should be embraced with pride rather than shame.

The organisers called for sustained efforts to provide menstrual products, improve education, and eliminate stigma, stressing that a supportive environment would help girls achieve their full potential.