First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has said inducted seven outstanding women into the Nigerian Women Hall of fame to define the scope of women’s contribution in national development.

Speaking at the official renaming of the National Women Development Center, (NCWD), to the Maryam Babangida National Women Development Center, (MBNCWD), yesterday in Abuja, Tinubu urged women to key into national issues.

She said “The Center is being renamed to reinforce my believe in the need for us as a people, to celebrate the contribution of the matriarchs of our land especially in nation building.

“Her excellency Dr. Mrs. Maryam Babangida was widely credited for bringing the office of the first Lady in Nigeria into prominence and through that office, touched the lives of a lot of Nigerians through her pet project better life for rural dwellers under which she mobilised resources to build this edifice,” (The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women’s Development).

She said the legacies left by the late former first lady Babangida, has greatly reduced the suffering of the rural poor.

Director-General of the centre, Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir, said the centre was renamed in recognition of late Babangida’s significant contributions and dedication to women’s development.

She said “The Centre will stand as a symbolic gesture that acknowledges and honours the tremendous efforts and contributions of Maryam Babangida in promoting women’s rights and empowerment in Nigeria, which forms the basis for our continuous advocacy.”

Dr. Vilita-Bashir who inducted seven notable women into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame including former first lady is Fatemi, reiterated the centre’s commitment towards supporting the first lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, which resonates the mandat of the present administration.

Speaking on behalf of all the first Ladies, Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq, Kwara state first lady, highlighted the need to ensure women were given opportunities to effectively contribute to national development.and self realisation.

Among those inducted were Dr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat-Madein, the first Female Accountant of the Federation, Dr. Muheeba Farida-Dankaka first Female Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Prof. Ongoebi Maureen-Etebu first Female Professor of Mechanical Engineer in the Annals of Nigerian History and Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, first female international health correspondent in Africa and Pioneer Member of the Centre for Diseases Control, CDC Altanta in USA.

Others are Toun Okewale -Sonaiya, first noman to establish a women’s dedicated radio station in Nigeria and Ms Ene Ede, first female publisher of women’s focus newspaper in Nigeria.