The House of Representatives and other stakeholders on Thursday backed a bill seeking to immortalise late former First Lady, Maryam Babangida by renaming the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja after her.
The lawmakers and other stakeholders spoke during a public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Amend the National Centre for Women Development Act 2004 organised by the House Committee on Women Affairs, chaired by Rep Adewumi Onanuga.
The Bill which is sponsored by the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, specifically stated that the centre be renamed “Maryam Babangida Women Development Centre.”
Lawmakers and other stakeholders who spoke at the hearing of the bill extolled the former First Lady for her efforts to improve the lives of Nigerian women and children through her pet project: “Better Life for Rural Women”.
They also called for a posthumous national honor award to appreciate her contributions to national development.
Speaking, a member of the committee, Tijani Ismaila, described Maryam Babangida as a heroine.
Rep Aishatu Dukku, while supporting the bill, described it as timely, adding that the late first lady deserved more for her contributions.
“This bill honestly has been observed to be timely. I want to say that our late mother even deserved much more than this. And it is not just the centre that she has built and nurtured that we ought to honour her.
“That is not enough but as we are doing the right thing, we need to know that she deserved much more than this because I personally have very wonderful memories of our mother as we were growing, she was a true Nigerian, a detribalized Nigerian who care for every girl and woman. Every where she went, it was Nigerian women at her heart. So, I commend the sponsor of the bill and the chairman of the committee for organizing this public hearing”, she said.
Also speaking, Rep Hassan Sokodabo said: “You can hardly visit any local government area in Nigeria without seeing her imprint. No village, you will see one thing or the other that this woman lived for. We will do all we can to see that this bill sees the light of day.”
In her presentation, the Director General of the National Women Development Centre, Hon. Asabe Bashir said that the support given to the bill has shown inclusiveness.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila earlier in his remarks said the National Centre for Women Development plays an essential role in promoting the welfare of women in Nigeria through policies, programmes and advocacy efforts across the country.
He however said there was still much work to be done to dismantle those practices, beliefs, and attitudes that victimize women in economics and exclude them from decision making in politics.
“We still have to protect the rights of women and girls, honour their dignity, and give them opportunities to rise to their highest potential”, he said.
He said the National Centre for Women Development must play a critical leadership role to ensure success in achieving these goals.
