Stakeholders adopt women’s development center renaming after Maryam Babangida

Stakeholders unanimously adopted the name change of National Center for Women’s Development (NCWD)Abuja at the Maryam Babangida National Center for Women’s Development.

Stakeholders comprising of women’s groups, said so during a public hearing on a bill to rename the center to Maryam Babangida Centre, organized by the Senate Women’s Affairs Committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

The press agency of Nigeria reports that the center was established in 1992 and is named after the late Maryam Babangida, given her leadership initiatives on women-development.

It was, however, renamed the National Center for the Development of Women ( NCWD) in 1994, by the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

Some of the stakeholders included Ms. Paulen Tallenthe Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Ms. Lami Lau, the President of the National Council of Women’s Societies ( NCWS) and Mrs. Ladi BalaPresident of the National Association of Women Journalists ( NAWOJ).

Speaking, sen. Batty Apiafithe sponsor of the bill, said naming the center after Maryam Babangida would be an honor in recognition of her enormous contributions to uplifting Nigerian women.

The National Center for Women’s Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 seeks, among other things, to rename the Center after the late Maryam Babangida.

“It aims to change the designation of the Head of the Center from Executive Secretary to Director General and upgrade it to the global standard.

“The renaming of NCWD as the Maryam Babangida National Center for Women’s Development will serve as a fitting monument to Nigerian women and a practical manifestation of its founder’s aims for the empowerment of women through education, self- achievement and mobilization,” she said.

She said the bill also sought to strengthen the functions of the centre, granting it discretionary powers to award contracts where it had previously been restricted.

She said the need for the legislature to be at the forefront of the fight for women’s empowerment and development can never be overstated.

“It was an unfortunate event during the passing of the Constitutional Amendment that the five Amendment Bills which would have had a positive impact on women in Nigeria did not pass the Senate,” he said. she declared.

She said the committee would work with relevant stakeholders to strive for the advancement of Nigerian women as Maryam Babangida did in her lifetime.

Apiafi said that given the support for the bill as indicated in the various submissions, the report for its third reading consideration would be presented to the Senate in plenary session.

Speaking, Tellen said the ministry fully supports renaming the center after the founder and making it the hub for all development issues.

The late Maryam Babangida’s daughter, Mrs. Aisha, said the original aims of the center included strengthening the role of women in education, culture, law, politics, agriculture, cooperatives and rural development.

She said the center should be used to recognize and advocate for women who are making a difference and setting an example for others.

“I would like to see a fund that can give grants to women who excel in these areas to allow them to reach further and lead the way for others,” she said.

Aisha said the initial goals of the center included strengthening the role of women in education, culture, law, politics, agriculture, cooperatives and rural development.

NewsSourceCredit: NOPE