23rd January, 2020
A former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Delta State, Queen Betty Efekodha has raised the alarm over plan to convert the Maryam Babangida Women Development Centre that was built during the tenure of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state to Appeal Court premises.
Maryam was the wife of former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. She died at the age of 61 from ovarian cancer on 27 December, 2009 in a Los Angeles, California hospital.
According to Efekodha, the building has been roofed and painted, while what remained is for it to be furnished.
“I have been looking forward to the day it will be commissioned by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state.
“This would have gone a long way in improving the lot of women all round as the edifice housed a very big hall plus smaller adjoining halls and different offices for meetings, trainings, seminars, hall of fame and skills acquisitions,” she said.
The former commissioner said in a statement she wrote on the issue that the centre also plays host to national and international women programmes and events.
She added that the importance of the women centre could not be over emphasized.
“More so, it was named after an illustrious daughter of Delta State, who made women to be seen and also heard through her Better Life Programme.
“It is definitely a big plus to women development. I have deliberately brought it to this platform so that we women of Delta State can appeal to the governor to let our centre be.
“In as much as the Court of Appeal is necessary and I appreciate the Governor for it, robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the best.
“I therefore appeal to my National President and State Chairman to please look into it. If possible, a delegation can see our Governor,” she said.