 You are still watching Ways Now National, No Apologies period day is observed every year on June 9th. For far too long, people who menstruate have been shamed and made to feel guilty simply for having periods. So we live in a culture that teaches us from a young age that periods are something that should be hidden and not discussed in public, which is of course an insane concept considering that half of the world's population have periods. I think even more than half now. Now this important day seeks to dismantle the culture that has made menstruators ashamed of their own bodies. Periods are healthy, they are important and natural. So it's time to do away with these old patriarchal notions and stop all the apologies, you know, on period. Let me put the attitude there. So this speaking about this period, I have this story. I decided that every time I go to a supermarket to get my sanitary pads, I will not even put it in the baskets. And we carry it and we hold it like this because like literally like you, I feel like a lot of women are ashamed to buy tampons but these things without it, even you that is looking at me, you will not be alive because you need a woman to go through that period cycle for us to be able to even get pregnant not to even talk about having a child, right? So I don't understand why people are being stigmatized when they're on their monthly menstrual cycle and all of that. It doesn't make any sense. So these days I'm really like, I'm out for you. If you look at me, I look at you back. I remember when I went to the supermarket I had to get my, because I buy in bulk, right? So I wanted to replace my, the man was just with me. I was looking at him back, you know? Why are you looking at me? Like I very committed a crime. I shouldn't be ashamed to get sanitary pads and all of that. So I think this is a very important day. Not many people understand the stigma some people have to go through, especially again for girls. Maybe, I mean, thank God for sanitary pads now that no, sanitary pads now the way they are designed. Remember the sanitary pads that in those days that you are always checking whether you're stained, you know, and all of that. So let me just give you a hint when you see me in all black for the week for three days, five days. We know that stuff, but you still know. But you know, I mean, at least thankfully it's getting easier. But, you know, it might be funny now but it wasn't funny for some, a lot of people. I know that I spoke to a young lady that started this fantastic idea to create reusable pads, right? And guess what? This reusable pads, she had to, she took them to the IDPs. You know, they make them very, very hygienic, you know. Once you clean it up and all of that, it's as good as new for use again. I think you can use it for a very long period. There's a mechanism for it. Don't twist your face. I remember part of what she said, doing her research, a lot of young girls drop out of school, you know, or they miss exams if they're going to, if they're on their monthly cycle because they couldn't even afford, you see them using leaves, you see them using like torn clothes. I mean, there's a lot that goes around the period and not to talk about the emotions. Like, literally, these days, I'm trying to also pay attention to my emotions. But when you see me very cranky and it's all very moody and all, it's just that hope. So there's a lot already that I'm going through. Don't come and add your own looking at me because I am on my menstrual cycle. Please, it doesn't make any sense. I think I've spoken too long about it. But do you have any story you want to share? No, except for the fact that, yes, people, some ladies have taken it to the extreme. I saw a video of one woman wearing just her panties and period walking on the street. I'm like, I know you're trying to break our women, that's too much, that's too much. I think it's an important conversation. Absolutely. I don't think companies, too, should also like one day, a month just to cause that. Do you remember I was recently lodged in a hotel and I was actually looking at it that, because I was on my monthly circle, right? I was not looking at it at all. There's no provision. There's no pad. Like the way you have all those small shampoos and all those things. Well, they usually have, so. They have the bags to be able to put the sanitary bag, right? Well, you know, I think it's the same, it's the funny thing as well, how if you notice, you never see a toothbrush. No, they are toothbrushes. What's majority? You see, they have dental key. You always have to request for it. Well, it depends on the hotel, but they have dental kit. They have vanity kit. Vanity kit. They have shower cap. They have everything, shampoo, all those things. And the sanitary bag. So I'm saying they have the sanitary bag to keep the used ones. I think it doesn't... Since you have put in tissue there, just one, you know. Let's start, maybe, to give hotels idea for something, because it makes me feel included. Because that day, genuinely, I was ill. And you forgot. Right? And I had gotten to the hotel if I remember that, oh, shoot. So I had to go and find alternatives, right? Imagine if there was a sanitary pad there. Hey, we don't talk and finish, but we're gonna still bring the topic back and probably bring in an expert, because again, I want to teach young girls how to be hygienic when they are on their period. Again, part of the stigma, again, is some people are not able to clean up properly. So they start to go off, have those bad thoughts. It's so hard. Yeah. I can't hide it. We have an office assistant and she really does struggle with body odor. It's so bad if she steps outside, you know, sweats in its own contract. Yeah, I think it's spoken to her before, because I've told my manager and she has spoken to her before. But I don't see any form of improvement. So I just carry a freshener and I just ask for it. Because I can't, it's a very tiny space that we're all staying in. Like, you're a lady, why can't I smell? So that's the thing. Some of them don't know how. Hygiene, right? Especially when you're in a monthly circle. Not many people understand it. My mom, I'm just blessed that my mom taught us well. Do you understand? Not many people understand hygiene. So I think again, part of what would help is also whilst we're talking about people accepting the fact that women would have periods. Let's also teach the women how to take care of themselves whilst they're on their period. Nobody needs to know that anything is going on. Yeah. OK. I think I've taken everything off my chest. What did you find personally? It's about a wired exam. So it reads, no fewer than 20 school officials allegedly aiding and abating examination moral practice have been arrested by the West African Examination Council in its ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates. The council said that the arrests were made in various parts of the country. The head national office of the council, Mr. Patrick Aragon, disclosed this on the sidelines of a monitoring exercise he carried out in school, in some schools on Thursday in Lagos. So this just, we've spoken on this show before. I think I will mention this particular. They arrested something with Medjugorje and all of that. So these are the things that just give bad names to our educational system. I don't understand the reason why you would collect money to assist children during exams. What of those who are probably studying so hard? It's just a whole. But I remember when I took this story, I said something. And I said it goes back to us as parents. My son is writing Y. And I can tell you for free that not many parents are comfortable just letting the child be and write their exams. Parents want to be sure that the child is, you know, what are you doing? What did you write today? You know, and all of that. My question only passed two things. How was today? How did it go? And that's it, right? But a lot of parents are actually the ones that caused some of these malpractices to linger or to escalate. Because now, who are the people providing the money to pay these people, the parents? Now, again, parents also look at track records of schools. They say, okay, you know what? These schools, the last Y, they had straight A's and all of that because of that, they take their children there. So the schools have said, okay, you know what? If that's the case, we'll make sure that we have straight A's by hook or by a crook. So that's what a lot of schools are doing. Aiding and abetting what's called exam or practice because, again, they want to keep that status to say, oh, they have clean records when it comes to exam excellence because that's all parents think about. So if we reverse that, and I think it will come more from the parents, they stop, you know, that idea of you must pass, you must pass and all of that and let the child truly go through the system. You know, if a child goes through a proper education, trust me, the child will do excellently well, regardless, do you understand? I know this from experience. That's how I've trained my children. You know, we don't discuss exam in my house because there's really no point. If you know what you did from beginning of the term till now, we don't need to be discussing what's happening in your exams. You would do well. So I think it comes from the parents and I think we need to bring someone from Wayak, you know, also to come probably sensitize people. These things are not necessary because some of them are going to jail. Some of them are going to jail. Oh, will they? They should. No, they said they will prosecute them. Mary, your story. President Senegal signed Electricity Act 2023 into law and passed states' private companies to generate power. The president, Bola and Mention, will have signed the 2023 Electricity Act, which is a replacement for the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 into a law. The newly enacted law will demunopolize Nigerian electricity generation, transmission and distribution of electricity at the national level. This new law will empower states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in the country. Recall that the Electricity Act 2023 was initially passed by law makers in July 2022 to allow states to issue licenses to private investors who can operate mini-grades and power plants within the state. But the act precludes interstate and transnational electricity distribution. The Nigerian Energy Regulatory Commission, NEC, would be able to govern the energy industry within Nigeria under the Electricity Act 2023 without prejudice to the states, authority to pass laws, grace, electricity makers and regulate those markets. Basically, we can now generate our own. Okay. I'm very happy about this. And if this comes to pass, even if the electricity bills might go off the roof and all of that, but at least we can really beat our chest to say, okay, now we start to have power, constant power. So I was just going to take my story. Young girl is trying to beat Hilda Batchi. She said, she wants to do 120 hours. My one is the food. I don't know if they have the pictures or something, but the food, right? The food of those that I saw, it was sugar in the presentation and all of that. I think people don't understand that there is something that is called, what's it called, planning. I was speaking to someone yesterday that said, oh, she wanted to start something. I said, see, the most important job before the event itself is the plan. You must put a structure in place. You must put a plan in place. You must put, you know, she just said, Tom, you could see, this is equity standard of the cook at home. But hopefully she started. Let's see how far she goes. But I just want to say to her that the truth is, in front of what took her that far, was because people came and massed to support her. Because, you know, when you see people, okay, I don't want to disappoint, you know. But this one, when I saw the food, she was looking like what I don't know. Well, my question is why now? Like, just allow her to enjoy the moment. I don't understand why we are like this. We're just rejoining. The last one, Parker, is being said. Another one. Just calm down. There is time for you to set your own record. I'm not going to calm down. She wants to take advantage of the way But hey, what's her heart? She doesn't even know her name. Sha, we are rooting for you. We'll be monitoring the story. If you are looking for the story, go to the punch newspaper. You will find the story there. But we are looking for you. I mean, we are rooting for you. 120 hours. Kudos, may God help you. Her name is Dami Lola Ade Perusi. Yeah? In the Kisi state, or local government. We are rooting for you. So let the governor also encourage her. I don't know whether I will be in trouble. If you see the food there, that's not something I will taste. I'm waiting for you. You can have a vibe. You can't do nothing. You can't kill her vibe. On that note, discuss me, perform as you want. Stay with us. We'll be right back.