The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in Abuja has installed its first wheelchair-accessible ramp, marking a significant change in a building that had operated for 34 years without that basic access feature.
Director-General Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi announced the development during a visit by women journalists, saying meaningful inclusion required practical changes to facilities and services rather than symbolic gestures.
She said a review of the building’s physical structure identified accessibility as an urgent priority. According to the director-general, contractors agreed to provide the ramp as a corporate social responsibility contribution at no cost to the centre.
Benjamins-Laniyi described the experience of a board member with a disability who was able to enter the facility in her wheelchair without being lifted or assisted. She said the moment illustrated how an apparently modest building modification could improve independence and dignity.
The director-general also announced plans for the centre’s first Disability Directorate, which she said would be led by a 29-year-old visually impaired employee who began her career in the information technology department.
She said the centre already had some assistive technology and planned further improvements, including engagement with potential partners such as the Indian High Commission.
The ramp is an important first step, but comprehensive accessibility will also depend on entrances, circulation routes, toilets, signage, communications and service design. The centre’s plans signal an opportunity to assess those needs systematically.
