During her tenure as Nigeria’s First Lady from 1985 to 1993, Maryam Babangida was instrumental in advancing the advancement of women’s rights and development. She turned the role of First Lady into a proactive forum for promoting the emancipation of rural women.
She started the Better Life Programme in 1987 with the goal of enhancing women’s living conditions, particularly for those who reside in rural areas. This program’s main goal was to give women the tools, knowledge, and skills they needed to become independent and provide for their families. Maryam Babangida significantly advanced the status of women in Nigeria through her work.
In 1993, the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women’s Development was founded with the goals of conducting research, providing training, and encouraging women to achieve self-determination.
She actively supported women’s concerns and contacted first ladies in other African nations to highlight the positive impact they could have on their citizens’ quality of life.