The National Women Development Centre has been officially renamed the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development.
This was announced yesterday in Abuja at a ceremony presided over by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
It was renamed after Maryam Babangida for her remarkable contributions to the lives of ordinary Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots level, through her renowned programme, “Better Life for Rural Dwellers.”
The event was a poignant moment for Mrs Tinubu, who had been present during the passage and signing of the bill for the renaming at the 9th National Assembly (NASS).
Now, as the first lady of the federation, she took part in the momentous act of renaming the centre, paying tribute to the late Mrs Maryam Babangida for her iconic role in enhancing women’s participation in national development through the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD).
During her address, Senator Tinubu commended the director general of the centre, Hajia Asabe Bashir, 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 renaming.
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 realisation of the centre’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.
