Five Hearing-Impaired Abuja Schoolgirls Reach Global Finals With AI Menstrual Health App

Five hearing-impaired secondary schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Kuje, Abuja, have emerged as global finalists at the 2026 Technovation Girls World Summit in Bengaluru, India, after developing an artificial intelligence-powered application to improve access to menstrual products.

The team, known as the STRIM Girls, presented their innovation, Saving Pad, after competing against thousands of teams from more than 160 countries, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Technology Beyond Disability Initiative.

The initiative said the five students were Adegbile Teniola Vivian, Sulaiman Maryam Adenike Isah, Moses Joy, Ukpapi Theresa Uzepi and Yusuf Ruth. The organisation mentored the team throughout the development of its innovation.

Saving Pad was designed to help students locate nearby sanitary pad banks, request menstrual products and access menstrual health education. The application aims to make essential menstrual care information and resources easier to access, particularly for deaf girls and students living with disabilities.

The project addresses challenges that can prevent girls from obtaining menstrual products when they need them, including difficulties accessing information and locating available supplies. By combining technology with menstrual health education, the students hope to make it easier for girls to identify where they can get assistance.

Explaining the motivation behind their project, the team said: “Because when a girl’s period starts, the question should never be: ‘What am I going to do?’ It should be: ‘I know where to go.’”

Their achievement highlights the potential of young people with disabilities to develop technology-driven solutions to challenges affecting their communities. It also draws attention to the importance of inclusive innovation, particularly in areas such as menstrual health, where access to information and essential products can influence girls’ well-being and participation in school.

The team’s appearance at the global summit places the Abuja students among international young innovators working to address real-world problems through technology. Their project demonstrates how accessible digital tools can help connect students with essential services and information.

The STRIM Girls’ achievement also underscores the role of mentorship and opportunities for girls to participate in science, technology and innovation. Their Saving Pad application offers a practical approach to menstrual health access, with a particular focus on ensuring that deaf girls and other students with disabilities are not left behind