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