By KINGSLEY OKOYE

Stakeholders have unanimously adopted the renaming of National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Abuja to Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development.

The stakeholders comprising women groups, said this at a public hearing on a bill on the renaming of the centre to Maryam Babangida Centre, organised by the Senate Committee on Women Affairs on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre was established in 1992 and named after Late Maryam Babangida, given her steering initiatives on women – development.

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

Some of the stakeholders included Mrs. Paulen Tallen, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Lami Lau, the President of National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) and Mrs. Ladi Bala, the President, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).

Speaking, Sen. Batty Apiafi, the sponsor of the bill, said that the naming of the centre after Maryam Babangida would serve as an honour in recongnition of her tremendous contributions toward uplifting Nigerian women.

“The National Centre for Women Development Act (Amendment) Bill 2022, seeks among others , to rename the Centre after Late Maryam Babangida.

“It seeks to change the designation of Head of the Centre from Executive Secretary to Director -General and upgrading it to global standard.

“Renaming NCWD as the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, will serve as fitting monument to Nigerian women and practical manifestation of goals of its founder for women empowerment through education, self-achievement and mobilisation,” she said.

She said the bill was also aimed at enhancing the functions of the centre,by granting it discretionary powers to award contracts where it was previously restricted.

She said the need for the legislature to be at the forefront of the fight for women empowerment and development can never be over-emphasised.

“It was an unfortunate event during the constitutional amendment passage that all five amendments bills that would have had positive impact on women in Nigeria were not passed by the Senate,” she said.

She said the committee would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to fight for the progress of Nigerian women like Maryam Babangida did during her lifetime.

Apiafi said that given the support of the bill as indicated in the various presentations, report for its consideration for third reading would be presented to the senate at plenary.

Speaking, Tellen said the ministry was in full support of renaming the centre after the founder and making it the hub for all developmental issues.

Daughter of late Maryam Babangida, Ms Aisha, said that the original goals of the centre included enhancing women’s role in education, culture, law, politics, agriculture, cooperatives and rural development .

She said that the centre should be used to recognise and champion those women who were making a difference and setting examples to other.

“I will like to see a fund that can issue grants to women who are excelling in these areas to enable them to go further and to lead the way for others,” she said.

Aisha said d that the original goals of the centre included enhancing women’s role in education, culture, law, politics, agriculture, cooperatives and rural development. (NAN)