Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development Abuja

MARYAM BABANGIDA NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT, ABUJA

Date: 20st May, 2026

*OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION*

*PRESS RELEASE*

*PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS MS. ADEDAYO BENJAMIN LANIYI AS DG/CEO OF THE MARYAM BABANGIDA NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT.*

*CONSTITUTES MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL.*

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the appointment of Ms. Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi as the Director-General /Chief Executive Officer of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) and the members of the Governing Council for an initial term of four (4) years.

In a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, and issued by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, the appointment, which takes effect from April 18, 2026, is in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 (1) and (3) of the National Centre for Women Development (Amendment) Act, 2023.

President Tinubu also approved the constitution of the members of the Governing Council of the Centre as follows:
- Princess Joan Jummai Idonije, Chairman; Governing Council.
Other members are:
- Ms. Lois Auta,
- Hon. Jamila Sarki,
- Aisha Baiyee,
- Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, and
- Hon. Princess Anne Agom-Eze.

While congratulating the Director-General and members of the Governing Council on their appointments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended his best wishes to them.


Signed:
*Chris Ugwuegbulam*
Head, Information & Public Relations
14th May, 2026

On behalf of the management and staff of Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, we say a very happy birthday to our dear Honorable Minister Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. On this special day, we celebrate not just your birth but your tireless dedication to advancing the rights, dignity, and opportunities of Nigerian women, children, and families. Your leadership drive in ensuring that 2026 is indeed the Year of Families and Social Development to championing “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls” continues to inspire as Nigerian women. May this new year grant you greater strength, wisdom, and grace as you drive reforms and empower millions across all 774 LGAs. Happy birthday, Ma.

Check out the Comprehensive Statistics Dashboard by Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development!

This powerful data visualization platform maps and analyzes Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases across Nigeria, providing location-based insights to support monitoring, planning, and effective response strategies.

👉 Click the link to view the dashboard and explore the data: https://www.mbncwd.org.ng/dashboard.php

MBNCWD - Nigeria SGBV Geospatial Dashboard

How Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session Is Driving Innovations That Affect What We Do at Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD)

The global conversations taking place at the Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session are not merely policy discussions at the international level. They directly influence the direction, priorities, and innovations in organizations such as the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) and the programs implemented through its initiatives in Nigeria.

For this reason, it is important for staff working with MBNCWD, as well as stakeholders connected to our organization, to follow what is happening at CSW70 and understand how global policy discussions shape the work carried out locally.

What CSW70 Is

The Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session is the 70th annual global meeting on women’s rights, organized by the United Nations.

It brings together:

Governments

Civil society organizations

NGOs

Researchers

Policy makers

from around the world to shape global policies on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Each year, the session provides a platform for countries and institutions to review progress, share innovations, and develop new strategies aimed at improving the lives of women and girls globally.

Key Focus of CSW70

The main theme of CSW70 centers on strengthening access to justice and equality for women and girls.

This includes:

Eliminating discriminatory laws

Improving legal systems that protect women

Removing structural barriers to women’s participation

Strengthening protection against gender-based violence

In practical terms, the global community is working toward:

Better legal protection for women

Economic empowerment for women

Protection against violence and abuse

Equal participation in leadership and decision-making

Why This Matters for MBNCWD

The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) plays a central role in promoting women’s empowerment, research, and policy development in Nigeria.

Many of the themes discussed at CSW70 directly influence the programs, research priorities, and policy directions implemented through MBNCWD.

Key Areas of Connection
1. Policy and Legal Reform

Discussions at CSW70 emphasize the need to remove laws and policies that limit women’s rights.

For MBNCWD, this reinforces the need to:

Support gender-responsive policies

Promote legal awareness for women

Advocate for stronger protections for women and girls

2. Women’s Economic Empowerment

Another major focus of CSW70 is improving women’s economic opportunities.

This aligns with programs supported by MBNCWD, including:

Entrepreneurship training

Vocational development

Economic empowerment initiatives

Support for women-led enterprises

3. Gender-Based Violence Prevention

Global discussions at CSW70 highlight the urgent need to address gender-based violence (GBV).

This relates directly to initiatives that institutions such as MBNCWD can support through:

Awareness campaigns

Research on GBV trends

Advocacy for stronger protection mechanisms

Collaboration with government and civil society organizations

4. Research and Data for Gender Policy

One of the key directions emerging from global gender discussions is the importance of data-driven decision-making.

Institutions like MBNCWD, which serve as research and policy centers, are well positioned to contribute by:

Conducting gender-focused research

Collecting and analyzing development data

Supporting evidence-based gender policy formulation

Innovation and Knowledge Sharing

Another important role of CSW70 is the sharing of innovations and best practices.

Countries and organizations present:

New empowerment programs

Digital tools for gender advocacy

Research findings

Policy frameworks that have proven effective

These ideas can be adapted and implemented by institutions such as MBNCWD to strengthen programs in Nigeria.

In this way, global knowledge translates into local development impact.

Why Stakeholders Should Follow CSW70

All staff of MBNCWD should take time to follow discussions and outcomes from CSW70 because they:

Shape global gender policy directions

Influence national development strategies

Provide new ideas for programs and research

Highlight partnership and collaboration opportunities

Strengthen Nigeria’s alignment with global gender commitments

Conclusion

The Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session is more than a global conference; it is a platform that helps shape the future of gender equality policies worldwide.

The ideas, commitments, and innovations emerging from this global dialogue have practical implications for institutions such as the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD).

For this reason, stakeholders connected with MBNCWD should make deliberate efforts to follow the conversations, insights, and outcomes from CSW70, as they will influence the programs, research priorities, and development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women and girls in Nigeria.

Date: 13th March 2026
Commission on the Status of Women 70 (CSW70)
Loida Lewis — Businesswoman, Lawyer and Philanthropist
Karen Davila — TV News Anchor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador
Iman Sulaiman‑Ibrahim — Minister of Women Affairs, Nigeria
(L-R)
Women Leading through Change
Highlights of the Discussion
At the ongoing Commission on the Status of Women 70 (CSW70), Loida Lewis illustrated a profound social truth using a simple mathematical idea: 1 + 1 = 2, while 1 − 1 = 0.
She then posed a thought-provoking question: Why focus on Zero (0)?

Though elementary in mathematics, the message carries deep meaning for society. When men and women contribute together, their strengths combine to produce balance, innovation, and progress—just like 1 + 1 = 2. Women represent nearly half of the world’s population and possess immense intellectual, economic, and leadership potential. When this potential is included, society becomes stronger and more productive.

However, when women are excluded or pushed to the background, society effectively subtracts from itself—much like 1 − 1 = 0. The outcome is lost ideas, untapped talent, and slowed development.

This principle also echoes the insight of John C. Maxwell in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, where he explains that individuals in organizations either add value or subtract value. Inclusion adds strength and progress; exclusion subtracts potential and weakens systems.

The lesson is clear: progress happens when we add, not subtract.
When men and women work together, 1 + 1 truly becomes 2 — a complete and powerful force for sustainable development.

Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Sulaiman‑Ibrahim, emphasized that women must clearly know what they want and what they do not want. This highlights that true empowerment begins with clarity of purpose.

When women define their goals—such as equal access to education, economic opportunities, leadership representation, safety, and dignity—it becomes easier for governments and institutions to support meaningful inclusion. Equally important is rejecting systems and attitudes that limit women’s participation or undermine their value.

Ultimately, empowerment begins with awareness and clear boundaries. When women know what they want—and what they will not accept—they can advocate, lead, and contribute more effectively to sustainable development.
-
Brief prepared by JMU

Also, Chief Mrs Moji Makanjuola a veteran journalist and broadcaster commended the DG’s emphasis on innovation and excellence within the Centre as well as her efforts in promoting Nigeria strategic interest in women agenda nationally and internationally.
A citation was delivered by a prominent media personality, NAWOJ president emeritus Mrs Evenly Onyilo in honour of the Director-General who voluntarily resigned her appointment highlighted key achievements during her tenure, includes the articulation and re-naming of the Centre to Maryam Babangida National Centre for women development, actualization of the 3rs(Rebranding, Restructuring and Repositioning) as well as significant milestone in staff welfare.
In her response, the Director-general expressed deep appreciation to the Centre’s leadership, management staff and the staff for their cooperation and professionalism through out her tenure. She therefore reaffirms the importance of cooperation in building an egalitarian Centre and called for sustained institutional support to enable the Centre to effectively discharge its mandate to Nigerian women.
Highlights of the event are the induction of the DG into the Nigeria Hall of Fame and photo sessions with staff and well wishers.

Nnamdi Iwuchukwu
Head, Press and Public Relation Unit
1st April 2026

MARYAM BABANGIDA NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE

MBNCWD HOSTS VALEDICTORY SESSION IN HONOUR OF DIRECTOR-GENERAL, HON DR ASABE VILITA BASHIR
Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development on Wednesday 3rd April hosted a valedictory session tagged ‘Village Meeting’ as well as the DG’s induction into the Nigeria Women Hall of Fame in honour of Hon.Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir in recognition of her distinguished services and contributions to the growth of Nigerian women in the past five years.
The event was hosted at the foyer of the administrative block in the Centre, and it brought together senior management staff, directors, and staff of the Centre as well as friends/well-wishers of the DG and stakeholders in gender main streaming.
In her remarks, the acting director-general, Mrs Ebi Emezue described the session as both symbolic and significant since it provided an opportunity to reflect on the DG’s impactful leadership and the giant strides recorded in advancing the Centre’s objectives. She highlighted the DG’s role in repositioning the Centre with its re-naming and promoting staff welfare while she enhances Nigerian women visibility on the global stage.
An outstanding goodwill message was delivered by the Comrade Chairman, Mr. Taslim Atoyebi on behalf of the staff where he underscores the DG’s visionary leadership, open door policy and her commitment to staff welfare as well as institutional development of the Centre.