Remi Tinubu renames Abuja women’s centre after Maryam Babangida

Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria, has renamed the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) after the late Maryam Babangida.

Tinubu also revealed her portrait and a compendium of activities of the First Lady and wives of governors of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023.

Maryam was the wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Nigeria’s head of state from 1985 to 1993.

She championed women’s development during her reign but died from ovarian cancer at the age of 61 in December 2009.

The NCWD is a federal government institution founded in 1992 for the training and economic empowerment of women.

Tinubu praised the late Maryam for her exemplary role in women’s empowerment and national development.

“Her excellency, the late Maryam was an icon who redefined the scope of women’s participation in national development and through her pet programme better life for rural dwellers touched ordinary lives, especially in the rural areas,” she said.

“I am happy that I was part of the ninth national assembly when the bill for the renaming of the centre was passed and assented into law.”

Also speaking, Monilola Udoh, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, said the centre was renamed in accordance with the amendment of the NCWD act, cap. N15, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Udoh said the change of name was necessary to improve the functions of the centre.

She said the bill for renaming was passed by the senate on March 29, 2023, while the house of tepresentatives enacted it on April 5.

“The government under the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the bill by assenting to it in May 2023,” she said.

“By this information, we want our esteemed partners, the general public and indeed the media personnel to take note of the changes and help publicise it to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and even beyond.”

On her part, Asabe Vilita-Bashir, Director-General of the centre, said renaming the building after the late Maryam Babangida will motivate other women in leadership to imitate her outstanding roles in nation-building.

“Maryam Babangida is someone that Nigerian women will not forget and we are doing this to encourage other women leaders to emulate her virtues, commitment and support to women,” Vilita-Bashir said.

“This will serve as an inspiration to all women in leadership positions to do more for Nigerian women and will be recorded by history.”

Others who attended the event include Nana Shettima, wife of the vice-president, Mohammed and Aminu Babangida, sons of the late Maryam, among others.

Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had renamed 15 airports after prominent Nigerian men without a single woman on the list.