A Non-governmental Organisation, #PadAGirl Campaign Project, has decried activities of some politicians who are calling on schoolgirls to reject its sanitary pad donations.
The group expressed shock that some people have been launching smear campaigns tagged ‘Reject Fayemi’s wife sanitary pads’ even as it affirmed that its exercise had no such link with wife of the Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
Advising politicians to desist from destroying good intentions on political grounds, the group said it was not comfortable with insinuations and innuendoes being attached to its sanitary pad distribution, aimed at frustrating Gender-based Violence (GBV) against schoolgirls.
Reacting to the scenario, Convener of #PadAGirlCampaign, Ms Precious Olofinyokun, stated, “My attention has been drawn to news making the rounds that the sanitary pads being distributed by #PadAGirl Campaign Project team should be rejected.
“This is nothing but a blatant lie and cheap blackmail.
“I’ve been doing this project since 2018 during my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps programme). I served in Ekiti State.
“I’ve been to more than 50 schools in Ekiti State doing this programme. I have intervened in so many reported cases of GBV and all of these I have done in Ekiti State.
“Few weeks ago, I thought of taking the advocacy to my hometown in Ondo State. which I had a successful programme on Friday, November 17th.
In actualising this, I approached some mentors and donors in development space and they came to my aid and helped with the project.
“I don’t think playing politics with this type of social service aimed at helping the vulnerable in the society is the best thing we should do.
“Things that are supposed to lift people out of poverty and encourage people to do more, shouldn’t be misinterpreted.
“I urge well-meaning members of the society to please disregard the misleading and malicious news being circulated by some mischievous individuals, especially regarding Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi’
“Unlike the misleading news report, Erelu Fayemi never distributed any pad to Ondo school students. The project was carried out by Team #PadAGirl Campaign under my leadership.”
Olofinyokun further remarked, saying, “The fact is that, Her Excellency launched a Pad Bank for indigent school girls this May to mark the World Menstrual Hygiene Day. And since I work in her office and being an indigene of Ilara-Mokin, I approached Her Excellency for help and she agreed since this is something I have been doing for a while.”
She described the smear campaign as “another phase which will actually pass”, adding, “I’m in good condition and I’m very well; thanks to those that reached out, I sincerely appreciate you all”.