CELEBRATING AN ICONIC AND VISIONARY WOMAN AT 75  

Oru Leonard

The Minister for Women affairs in Nigeria, on behalf all the Women, has joined others to celebrate Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Abacha, an iconic woman who was committed to the development of Women and Children, and as she marks her 75th birthday; “I wish to extol you for all your service which has made such an impact in the lives of every Nigerian Woman”, she said in a release made available to News Dot Africa.

Dame Tallen noted that during the tenure of Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Abacha as the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, she was known for the bold move she made in transforming the National Commission for Women into the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs with a full Cabinet Minister as Head. This was also replicated at all States of the Federation, and this remains outstanding in the history of Nigeria.

She recalled that contributions to the development of Nigerian Women and the girl-child truly impacted the lives of other women in National sphere. It was to her credit that the Family Support Programme was initiated, under which many skills Acquisition Centres were built and many women empowered. We will not forget in a hurry the Family Support Trust Fund; The Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) which brought succor to the less privileged in our society and the National Hospital for Women and Children; which is today the National Hospital, Abuja.

“I, therefore on behalf of the Management and Staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs congratulate you on attaining this remarkable age and you so deserve to be celebrated as one who has sacrificed a lot in projecting the positive image of the Nigerian woman over the years. Happy birthday and more beautiful years”, Dame Pauline K. Tallen stated