Abuja Women’s Centre Adds First Wheelchair Ramp After 34 Years

New Access for Disabled Users\nThe centre in Abuja has installed its first wheelchair‑accessible ramp, allowing people with disabilities to enter the building independently. The development follows a comprehensive review of the facility’s physical layout carried out by Director General Adedayo Benjamins‑Laniyi.\n\n## CSR‑Funded Construction\nContractors offered to build the ramp as part of a corporate social responsibility programme, at no cost to the centre. The ramp was completed using the existing terrazzo‑cement floor, which the director noted had remained resilient over the building’s 34‑year history.\n\n## Immediate Impact\nWithin a day of the ramp’s completion, a board member who is the first disabled person to sit on the centre’s board was able to wheel into the premises without assistance. The director highlighted that the new access eliminates the need for a lifter and enables the board member to move freely.\n\n## Future Plans\nThe director announced plans to establish the centre’s first Disability Directorate, which will be headed by a 29‑year‑old staff member who is visually impaired and previously worked in the ICT department. The director said the new office will be a priority when the board is inaugurated.\n\n## Context\nThe Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development was founded by the late First Lady Maryam Babangida and has operated for 34 years. The recent addition of the ramp marks a significant step toward inclusive infrastructure within the organisation.