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IBB’s Daughter Launches Foundation For Less Privileged In Honour Of Late Mother Maryam

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2025

The late wife of former Military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, came alive in Minna on Saturday 18th January, 2025 when her youngest daughter, Halima launched her NGO- the Halymah Ibrahim Babagida Foundation.

The memory of Maryam Babangida was honoured at the event which attracted a huge crowd of widows, students and the less privileged who all came in the hope of benefitting from either empowerment programme, scholarship or entrepreneurship support.

The Crowd came to the El-Amin University auditorium in Minna as early as 8am even though the event was billed to start by 10am. They included young widows, male and female students and pupils from different schools and communities in Niger State.

The advertisement for the event had stated that 300 widows would receive start up capital for business and 500 students would be enrolled for bursary to support their university education.

Some school principals were also invited on behalf of 4,000 indigent youths whose WAEC and JAMB fees had been paid by the foundation.

The First Lady of Niger State, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago was the special guest of honour while the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Faruk Bahago, was the Father of the day.

The programme started by 10am with the hall filled with women and students who sat in the hope of becoming beneficiaries of Halima’s empathy.

Zainab Umar, a 38-year- old widow told THE WHISTLER that her husband died and left her with three young children she could not afford to sponsor through school.

“I’m hoping that Halima Foundation will help me so that i can start a business and use the money to train my children,” she said in anticipation.

Also, Salim Mohammed,a student of Geography at the IBB University, Lapai, said “I have three other siblings who’re still in school while our father is retired,” adding that getting a bursary from the foundation would be life-changing for him.

An elderly widow, Madam Abigael, who said she was informed about the event by a neighbour, also hoped to be among those to benefit from the foundation’s empowerment packages which included cash and other items.

Apart from the special guest of honour who sent Hajia Hadiza Maikano to represent her, other VIPs present include Commissioner for Basic Education, Hajia Maimuna Mohammed; Dr Nurudeen Lemu, Mrs Ladi Mustapha and Chairman of Bosso Local Government Area, Hajiya Rakiya Ladidi Bawa.

The elder brothers of the founder of the HIB Foundation, Mohammed and Aminu Babangida also came to support their sister. Mohammed, who is the Pro Chancelor of El-Amin University while giving a goodwill message, said the event represented the essence of their late mother who loved education and helping the poor.

Mohammed called the Halima “the baby of the house” when their mother died 15 years ago, but said she is now the one carrying on Maryam Babangida’s legacy through the HIB Foundation.

The First Lady of the state, Her Excellency, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago, also commended Halima for her initiative. In a speech delivered on her behalf, she said the event reminded her about the “enduring legacy of one of Niger State’s finest daughters. Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Babangida was not just a mother to her children, she was a mother to the entire nation, a visionary who worked tirelessly to uplift rural women and families.”

She said it was befitting that it is her daughter who is now “continuing her mother’s journey of compassion and empowerment,” adding that she had “chosen education as her platform, ensuring that young boys and girls, especially those with limited opportunities, can dream big and achieve even more.”

The First Lady stated further that the foundation’s scholarship programme complements the initiatives of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s administration aimed at providing quality education and reducing barriers, particularly for the most vulnerable in the state.

Dr Nurudeen Lemu commended the HIB Foundation and the founder for choosing not to be an onlooker, but an active participant in the service of humanity. He described her effort as similar to the attempt to stop the Titanic (ship in a film by James Cameron) from sinking. He said Halima could choose to do nothing to uplift others, but decided she would do something.

In her speech, Halima said her late mother was the inspiration for the project and she decided to launch it to commemorate the 15th year of her passing.

“I remember vividly how my mother would sit with rural women, teaching them to read, showing them that knowledge was their greatest asset,” she stated.

“As we launch the Halimah Ibrahim Babangida Foundation on this 15th anniversary of her passing, we honour her legacy not just with words, but with decisive action.”

She revealed that the foundation launched three groundbreaking initiatives to empower 300 widows and young entrepreneurs, fund WAEC and JAMB for 4000 students, and the establishment of a comprehensive bursary programme for 500 undergraduates.

In her journey of compassion and passion for education, she acknowledged the complementary role of her childhood friend, Fatima Dangote.

She said, “While my dear friend Fatima Dangote cannot be here physically today, our shared vision remains unshaken. We chose to launch here, where our own journey began, because we believe in the power of roots, in the strength of coming full circle, and in the importance of giving back to the soil that nurtured us.

“The Halimah Ibrahim Babangida Foundation stands as a testament to what becomes possible when vision meets action. Our mission – ‘Better Education, Better Youth, Better Nation’ – is more than a slogan. It is our blueprint for national transformation, one young mind at a time.

“Today, we don’t just launch a foundation; we ignite a movement. Join us in this mission. Whether you’re an educator, entrepreneur, or community leader – there’s a role for you in this transformation.

“Let history record that on this day, in this place where dreams once took root, we planted a forest of opportunity for thousands to follow.”

After the speeches, the guests were invited one after the other to hand over cash and other empowerment items to widows. Some school principals were also handed lists and payment receipts for WAEC and JAMB for selected students numbering up to 4000. Some talented undergraduates also got scholarships

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

4 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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