The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, women groups and other stakeholders yesterday supported the move by the Senate to rename the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) after its founder, the late First Lady Maryam Babangida.
They spoke at a day public hearing on a Bill, “The National Centre for Women Developmental Act CAP N15, LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2022’, organised by the Senate Committee on Women Affairs at the National Assembly.
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Tallen, the president of National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Hajia Lami Adamu Lau, the president of the National Association of Women Journalists Ladi Bala, among others supported the move to rename the centre.
The chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Betty Apiafi, said the move was to appreciate the late first lady’s contributions to the development of Nigerian women.
She said the amendment also sought to enhance the functions of the centre by granting the council discretionary powers to award contracts.
Maryam Babagida’s daughter, Aisha, noted that the original goals of the centre included enhancing women’s role in education, culture, law, politics, agriculture, cooperatives and rural development.