The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday in Abuja officially immortalised the late Maryam Babangida by renaming the National Centre for Women Development after her.
Tinubu also unveiled her official First Lady portrait and a compendium of activities of the immediate past first lady and wives of state governors between 2015 and 2023.
She applauded the sterling contributions of late Mrs. Babangida on the lives of ordinary Nigerians and described her as a matriarch who improved the living standard of women, particularly in Nigeria’s rural areas and in Africa as a whole.
She said: “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.
“I am happy that I was part of the ninth National Assembly Senate when the bill for the renaming of the centre was passed and assented into law.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Monilola Udoh, said the bill for the change of name was passed by the Senate on March 29, 2023, while the House of Representatives passed the same on April 5, 2023.
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According to Udoh, the renaming is in line with the amendment of the National Centre for Women Development Act, Cap. N15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Dr. Asabe Vilita-Bashir, the Director-General of the centre, equally acknowledged the contributions of the late first lady, through her “Better life for Rural Women” project.
Vilita-Bashir said the renaming would serve as an inspiration to all women in leadership positions to do more for Nigerian women.
Moji Makanjuola, the Chairman, Implementing Committee for Infrastructure and Renaming of the centre, said: “Renaming of the centre is significant.
“We need to start putting history into perspective.
“If we don’t do that, we will lose sight of who we are as a people, country, nation and tribe.”
Hajiya Aliyu, a beneficiary of the late Maryam Babangida’s programme: “Better life for Rural Women,” said the renaming of the centre was apt.
According to Aliyu, it will encourage other leaders, particularly First Ladies, to embark on policies and programmes that will impact positively on the common people.
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