The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has charged the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) to reposition itself as a dynamic institution that promotes women’s economic empowerment, skills development and inclusive national development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister gave the charge during an official visit to the Centre, where she inspected facilities and met with the newly appointed Director-General, the Governing Board, management and staff in Abuja.
Highlighting the growing influence of Nigerian women across key institutions and professional bodies, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said their achievements underscore the limitless potential of women when given opportunities.
“It is women o’clock. Just yesterday, we saw the emergence of the very first elected female President of the Nigerian Bar Association. So, you see that there is nothing the Nigerian woman cannot achieve when she belongs to an ecosystem that is the engine room of national development.”
Describing women’s empowerment as central to national progress, the minister said the ministry remains committed to helping women achieve prosperity.
“Can you see what happens when you empower a woman? That is what we are here for – to help women chart their course to prosperity. The work we are doing is essential because, without it, Nigeria cannot stand as it should.”
She said President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a one-trillion-dollar economy requires women to be active contributors rather than passive beneficiaries.
“The mandate is clear. Mr President wants us to build the economic strength of our women. We will not be spectators. We are going to co-create the one-trillion-dollar economy together.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged the Centre to evolve into a vibrant development hub offering a broad range of services for women.
“I would like to see us diversify our social services, so that I can come here for yoga, learn AI, enrol in a culinary school, or take part in sports because the Nigerian woman is an all-rounder.”
She also stressed the importance of inclusivity saying “You cannot stop at caring for indigent women; they matter. But Nigerian women come from all walks of life, and we have to open our doors to every woman.”
Earlier, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of MBNCWD, Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, said the minister’s visit reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing the welfare of women, families and vulnerable groups through transformative policies.
She presented the Centre’s Roadmap 2.0 – RENOVATE, describing it as an institutional transformation framework aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Renewed Hope Initiative of Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Benjamins-Laniyi said the roadmap is anchored on eight strategic pillars, with priorities including socio-economic inclusion, accessibility, inclusive participation and digital innovation.
“Through RENOVATE, we are repositioning the Centre not simply as an institution for women, but as a strategic national platform founded on a simple conviction: when women thrive, families flourish; when families flourish, communities prosper; and when communities prosper, the nation develops.”
