In a ceremony presided over by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the National Women Development Center has been officially renamed ‘Maryam Babangida National Center for Women Development’.
The decision was to honour the late former First Lady, Her Excellency Dr (Mrs) Maryam Babangida, for her remarkable contributions to the lives of ordinary Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots level, through her renowned program, “Better Life for Rural Dwellers.”
The event was a poignant moment for Mrs Tinubu, who was present during the passage and signing of the Bill for the renaming by the 9th National Assembly.
Now, as the First Lady, she took part in the momentous act of renaming the center, paying tribute to the late Dr (Mrs) Maryam Babangida for her iconic role in enhancing women’s participation in national development through the National Center for Women Development (NCWD).
During her address, Senator Tinubu commended the Director General of the Center, Hajia Asabe Bashir Vilita, and her management staff for their initiative in pushing for the renaming.
She also acknowledged the vital roles played by female National Assembly members who championed the legislative effort behind the change of name.
Representatives of the Babangida Family, Mohammed Babangida, and his brother, Aminu Babangida, expressed their gratitude to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the esteemed honour bestowed upon their late mother.
They also extended their appreciation to all the women who contributed to the realization of the center’s renaming.
As part of the ceremony, the portrait of Senator Tinubu was unveiled at the Hall of Fame.
Notably, she had previously been inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 as the first female legislator to have been elected into the Senate for three consecutive terms.
The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and wives of State Governors, among others.
