A new national initiative is set to document and preserve the stories of 66 Nigerian women whose contributions to national development cut across leadership, public service, business, education, agriculture, the creative sector and other fields.
The project, “The Amazon 1.0,” is being developed through a partnership between the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and De-Verge Security & Logistics Services Limited.
The three institutions formalised the partnership through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed at the Aisha Babangida Nigerian Hall of Fame, Abuja, on Thursday.
The initiative will combine art, documentation and storytelling to preserve the experiences and achievements of the selected women and make their contributions more visible to present and future generations.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General/CEO of MBNCWD, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, said the project was intended to address the need for a lasting record of women whose courage, leadership, sacrifice and service have contributed to Nigeria’s development.
“This partnership is about creating a lasting record of women whose courage, leadership, sacrifice and service have helped shape Nigeria, while ensuring that their stories continue to inspire generations to come,” she said.
Benjamins-Laniyi said the collaboration with the National Gallery of Art would provide an opportunity to combine visual art with storytelling and bring the achievements of Nigerian women to wider public attention.
She said the 66 women selected for the initiative would serve not only as subjects of recognition but also as examples to young women and girls seeking pathways into leadership and nation-building.
“The Centre is committed to collaborating with our partners to ensure that The Amazon 1.0 achieves its purpose of celebrating our women, preserving their stories and inspiring the generations coming behind them,” she added.
Preserving women’s stories through art
The Director-General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Bashir Sodangi, said the partnership offered an opportunity to use contemporary approaches to preserve and communicate Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
He explained that while the National Commission for Museums and Monuments is responsible for museums, monuments, antiquities and archaeological heritage, the National Gallery of Art is mandated to promote, preserve and develop modern and contemporary Nigerian art.
Sodangi said the mandate had created room for the Gallery to explore new approaches to art, exhibitions and creative partnerships.
“Art is not static; it is dynamic. Our mandate allows us to embrace new techniques, innovations, and new ways of engaging with art. This partnership gives us an opportunity to create something with lasting value,” he said.
He disclosed that the institutions were also considering rotational exhibitions from the National Gallery of Art’s collection at the Centre’s Art and Craft Centre.
According to him, the exhibitions could create opportunities for the diplomatic community, visitors and other stakeholders to experience Nigerian art and culture.
Beyond recognition
The initiative is also being positioned as a longer-term investment in the legacy of Nigerian women.
The Managing Director of De-Verge Security & Logistics Services Limited, Bala Dauda, said the 66 women were being recognised for stories reflecting courage, resilience, leadership, sacrifice and service across different parts of Nigeria.
He said their experiences cut across geography and sectors, from education and agriculture to business, public leadership and the arts.
“When we founded De-Verge, our charter was clear and uncomplicated: to protect, to deliver, to secure lives, and to deliver hope. Today, that mandate has been elevated. We are now entrusted with a higher calling: to secure the legacy of Nigerian women, and to deliver their stories to this nation and to the world,” Dauda said.
He disclosed that the company plans to establish “The 66 Special Legacy Trust Fund” in 2027, with the proposed endowment expected to support scholarships, enterprise development and leadership opportunities.
The proposed fund, he said, would provide a mechanism for extending the impact of the initiative beyond celebrating the 66 women.
De-Verge also plans to mobilise resources from members of the public, corporate organisations and Nigerians in the diaspora towards the initiative.
Dauda described the project as more than a one-off celebration, saying it was intended to create a lasting national legacy.
“This is not merely an event. This is a movement. This is a message to every little girl in Sokoto, Lagos, Enugu, Bayelsa and Maiduguri that says: ‘See her? That can be you,’” he said.
The six-month project will be overseen by a Joint Project Steering Committee, with MBNCWD expected to provide institutional support, stakeholder engagement and strategic coordination.
The initiative comes at a time when conversations around women’s representation in Nigeria increasingly include the need to preserve and amplify women’s contributions to national development.
By documenting the stories of women from different backgrounds and sectors, The Amazon 1.0 seeks to create a visible archive of female leadership while connecting the achievements of one generation with opportunities for those coming behind them.
The signing ceremony also featured a tour of the Centre, including the 18-foot “Omalicha” sculpture, and a group photograph with participants.
