WOMEN AFFAIRS SECRETARY COMMISSIONS NCWS HEADQUARTERS
… DESCRIBES IT AS MILESTONE IN WOMEN ADVANCEMENT
By: Martha Shibayan
The Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, has described the commissioning of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) FCT Chapter Headquarters as a milestone in advancing women’s inclusion, leadership, and empowerment across the Federal Capital Territory.
In her speech while commissioning the edifice recently in Abuja, Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi commended the Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, for their gender-responsive leadership and infrastructural drive that has continued to create opportunities for women to thrive in the FCT.
She congratulated the President of NCWS FCT Chapter, Hajiya Hadiza Abdullahi, and her executive team for their visionary leadership and commitment to empowering women through grassroots mobilisation and policy advocacy.
“This new NCWS building is not just an office but a space for innovation and growth where women entrepreneurs will be nurtured, young girls will learn leadership, and ideas for gender equality will continue to take root,” Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi stated.
Highlighting the Secretariat’s partnership with NCWS, she reaffirmed the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat’s continued collaboration with the Council, noting that supporting women-led institutions remains central to the Secretariat’s mandate.
Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi also commended the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for its transformative impact across the FCT’s communities, describing it as a catalyst that connects women to the dividends of democracy.
“This milestone reflects a new era for FCT women , one of visibility, inclusion, and sustained empowerment,” she said.
The President of NCWS FCT Chapter, Mrs. Edna D. Azura, described the newly commissioned structure as “a powerful symbol of dedication, legacy, and the enduring strength of Nigerian womanhood.”
“This beautiful structure is more than just concrete and glass; it represents the confidence and resilience of Nigerian women. That is why you can see us thriving, because we know we have a mother behind and before us in the person of Senator Oluremi Tinubu,” she said.
Mrs. Azura further noted that naming the edifice the Hajiya Adamu Lau Centre was a tribute to the lasting legacy of the late Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, whose leadership and service to Nigerian women remain deeply inspiring.
The Ona of Abaji and Chairman of the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, also commended the First Lady and the Minister of State for FCT for their visionary leadership, noting that their arrival in office brought renewed energy and results for the Territory.
“Immediately they came on board, the spirit in us told us something unique would happen in the FCT, and today, this magnificent edifice is proof,” he said.
In an emotional remark, Barr. Ummi Adamu Lau, daughter of the late Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, expressed her gratitude to NCWS for immortalizing her mother’s memory through the naming of the new headquarters.
“My mother gave 30 years of her life in service. Today, her legacy lives on, and there is nothing NCWS could have given us that will be more meaningful than this great honour,” she said.
The ceremony drew dignitaries, women leaders, and development partners who described the new NCWS headquarters as a beacon of unity, innovation, and progress for women in the Federal Capital Territory.
