After 34 Years, Women Centre Gets First Wheelchair Ramp

In a significant development for the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, the facility has finally been equipped with a wheelchair ramp, marking the first time in its 34-year existence. Director General Ms. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi announced this on Thursday in Abuja while welcoming women journalists to the Centre.

Ms. Benjamins-Laniyi explained that the ramp was not simply about providing special seating, but rather about making necessary interventions to address long-standing accessibility issues. She emphasized that it was not just about financial investment, but about implementing comprehensive solutions.

Upon becoming Director General, Ms. Benjamins-Laniyi conducted a thorough review of the Centre's physical structure. She was particularly impressed by the building's resilience after 34 years, noting the quality of the terrazzo cement that had been mixed with the concrete. When contractors learned of her priority on accessibility, they offered to construct the ramp as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, at no cost to the Centre.

The impact of the ramp was immediate. On Wednesday, the first board member with a disability wheeled into the facility independently, without any assistance. This breakthrough emotional moment highlighted the Centre's commitment to inclusion.

Ms. Benjamins-Laniyi also announced plans to establish the first Disability Directorate within the Centre, headed by a 29-year-old visually impaired staff member who began her career in the ICT department. The Centre already possesses enabling technology in its ICT unit, and plans to further upgrade it to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.

The Director General expressed the Centre's intention to collaborate with partners like the High Commission of India to further strengthen inclusion and accessibility for all.