Former Nigerian First Lady and wife of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was posthumously honoured with the naming of a park after her. The Maryam Babangida Leisure Park, Asaba was built by the government of Delta State and initiated by the state governor Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the current Presidential candidate of the PDP while commissioning the project commended Okowa for contributing to the growth and development of tourism in the country.
He said: “What makes this event special is the naming of this place after Mrs. Maryam Babangida. “This is because she was a lady who introduced very historic programmes in the lives of our women, particularly, rural women.
“For those who are not old enough to remember, she was the founder and initiator of Better Life for Rural Women.”
Atiku paid special tribute to her “for that contribution”, adding that women empowerment had been on the decline since her death. He said that he had a meeting with the leadership of the creative industry in Lagos about two months ago. Earlier, Okowa said that naming the park after late Babangida was to recognise her contributions to Asaba community and larger society.
Okowa lauded the creative industry for its inputs leading to the construction of a Film Village alongside the Leisure Park and Zoo. He said that Delta had become the next tourism destination in the country.
“We decided to name the park after our great mother because of the impact she made on humanity.
“And I am glad that her son, Mohammed, is here today to witness the inauguration of the facility,” the governor said. In a remark, Mohammed commended the state government for the honour done to his mother. He said that her legacies would continue to live long after her demise.
Other projects inaugurated by the former Vice President were the Koka Flyover and Interchange on the Asaba-Benin Expressway, Model Technical College, Asaba, Mother and Child Specialist Hospital and Advanced Diagnostics Centre, Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area.
