Five hearing-impaired secondary schoolgirls from Government Secondary School in Kuje, Abuja, have gained international recognition as finalists at the 2026 Technovation Girls World Summit in Bengaluru, India. They developed an app called Saving Pad, which uses artificial intelligence to help users find menstrual products.
The team, known as the STRIM Girls, consists of Adegbile Teniola Vivian, Sulaiman Maryam Adenike Isah, Moses Joy, Ukpapi Theresa Uzepi, and Yusuf Ruth. They presented their app after competing against thousands of teams from over 160 countries.
Saving Pad allows students to locate nearby sanitary pad banks, request menstrual products, and access health education. The girls explained that their goal is to ensure that when a girl’s period starts, she knows exactly where to go for help.
The app features an interactive map for finding pad banks, a system for requesting products, period tracking, and educational resources about menstrual health. It also helps coordinators monitor supplies and get alerts when stocks are low.
The STRIM Girls have partnered with the Deaf Women Aloud Initiative to launch a pilot program in three special schools in Abuja. They plan to expand their efforts to primary healthcare centers and communities in need across Nigeria.
At the summit, the girls highlighted how accessible technology and community support can tackle menstrual health issues while promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include good health, quality education, and partnerships.
Upon returning to Nigeria, the girls received a warm welcome at the airport from Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, along with her management team.
[logo-slider]
