The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has commended the Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, for her sustained advocacy for women’s leadership, gender equality and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The council gave the commendation in a birthday message signed by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, who praised Benjamins-Laniyi’s leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for women to occupy strategic positions, particularly in the media and other sectors of national development.
Ike described the MBNCWD director-general as a strong advocate of gender-responsive leadership whose initiatives in mentorship, capacity development and stakeholder engagement had helped advance women’s participation in decision-making and public discourse.
“As a tireless advocate for women’s advancement, she has actively championed pathways that place women in media leadership roles, mentoring and opening doors so that more women can shape public discourse and policy,” the NUJ FCT chairman said.
She noted that Benjamins-Laniyi’s advocacy had contributed to drawing attention to the need for greater female representation in media leadership, where women’s perspectives and professional contributions remain critical to shaping public opinion and policy debates.
The council also applauded her commitment to the professional development of women journalists, noting that expanding opportunities for female practitioners to assume leadership positions was essential to building a more representative and inclusive media industry.
Beyond gender equality, Ike commended the director-general’s advocacy for persons with disabilities, particularly her efforts to promote accessibility, representation and inclusive development within institutions and society.
According to her, Benjamins-Laniyi’s leadership is reflected not only in policy initiatives but also in her integrity, collaborative approach and ability to engage stakeholders across different sectors in pursuit of shared development objectives.
She added that the director-general had continued to strengthen the MBNCWD’s role in promoting women’s empowerment, gender-responsive leadership, professional capacity development and advocacy for equal opportunities.
The NUJ FCT Council stressed that sustained collaboration among government institutions, media organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders remained necessary to dismantle barriers to women’s advancement and ensure their meaningful participation in leadership and governance.
It called for stronger partnerships to promote gender equality, improve women’s representation in decision-making and advance the empowerment and inclusion of all Nigerians, including persons with disabilities.
“As we celebrate this special day, we convey our heartfelt wishes for good health, renewed strength and continued success,” Ike said.
“We pledge our continued collaboration as she advances gender equality, women’s leadership in media and empowerment for all Nigerians.”
The council reaffirmed its appreciation for Benjamins-Laniyi’s contributions to women’s advancement, expressing confidence that sustained engagement between the centre and media stakeholders would create more opportunities for female journalists and strengthen inclusive representation across the country.
The NUJ FCT Council wished the director-general a fulfilling birthday and renewed success in her efforts to promote women’s leadership, equality and inclusive national development.
