Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi: The woman leading Nigeria’s National Centre for Women Development

Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi is a Nigerian politician, communications professional, ordained pastor, women’s rights advocate and social entrepreneur.

She currently serves as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), a federal institution responsible for promoting women’s empowerment and development across Nigeria.

Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, her four-year tenure took effect on April 18, 2026. Before her appointment, she served as the pioneer Mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), a position she assumed in October 2023.

With more than three decades of experience spanning communications, media, public service, mentorship and social development, Benjamins-Laniyi has built a professional profile around women’s empowerment, leadership development and community engagement.

Her career has taken her through broadcasting, event management, political participation, religious ministry and government administration. These experiences now inform her leadership of a national institution dedicated to advancing opportunities for Nigerian women and girls.

Early Life and Background

Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, née Olumide, was born on October 16, 1965. She hails from Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria, while her mother is from Trinidad.

Her background and professional interests have intersected across communication, leadership, faith and community service. These areas have featured prominently throughout her career, from her early work in media and public engagement to her later involvement in politics and public administration.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Benjamins-Laniyi is an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where she maintains an involvement in Christian ministry alongside her work in government and social development.

Education and Professional Qualifications

Benjamins-Laniyi received her secondary education at Queen’s College, Lagos, one of Nigeria’s established girls’ secondary schools.

She subsequently attended the University of Ibadan, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English in 1989. Her academic background provided a foundation for her subsequent work in communications, broadcasting, presentation and consultancy.

She also holds the professional designations of Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Management Consultants (FIMC) and Certified Management Consultant (CMC). These qualifications complement her experience in organisational leadership, communications consultancy and social entrepreneurship.

Career in Communications and Social Entrepreneurship

Before entering senior public service, Benjamins-Laniyi developed a career spanning communications, broadcasting, events management and lifestyle services.

She is the founder and executive director of DOXA Group, a media, events and lifestyle organisation. Through the venture, she has been involved in communication, event coordination, public engagement and creative enterprise.

Her professional experience has also included consultancy and mentorship, with an emphasis on communication, leadership and community development.

Broadcasting and Public Engagement

Benjamins-Laniyi has worked in television, including as the host of Ask Aunty D, a programme aired on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

The programme added broadcasting and television presentation to her experience in communications and public engagement. It also provided a platform for interacting with audiences beyond her work in business, advocacy and community initiatives.

She is also known for hosting The Experience, the annual gospel music concert organised by House on the Rock. The event attracts large audiences and prominent participants from religious, entertainment and public life.

One of the moments associated with her role at the concert attracted public attention when she introduced Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.

At the time, Benjamins-Laniyi was an All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant. Reports of her introduction, which she reportedly described as political rather than personal, generated debate on social media about the relationship between religion, public communication and partisan politics.

The episode highlighted the public attention that can accompany the intersection of political identity and participation in major religious events.

Women’s Rights Advocacy and Mentorship

Women’s empowerment and leadership development have remained central to Benjamins-Laniyi’s advocacy.

Through mentorship, community engagement and initiatives targeting women and young people, she has supported efforts to improve access to opportunities, strengthen confidence and encourage greater participation in decision-making.

Her advocacy emphasises education, leadership skills, personal development and women’s involvement in public life. She has also been associated with initiatives intended to encourage women to pursue leadership roles and participate more actively in politics.

Hope Again for FCT Women in Politics

Benjamins-Laniyi is the Grand Matron of Hope Again for FCT Women in Politics, an initiative associated with encouraging and mentoring women interested in political participation and leadership.

Through the platform, she supports efforts to help women understand political opportunities, build confidence and become more involved in governance.

Her advocacy addresses a wider challenge in Nigeria, where women continue to encounter barriers to political representation and access to leadership positions.

By promoting mentorship and participation, her work seeks to encourage women to become active contributors to political and public affairs.

Dream Girls Project

Another initiative associated with Benjamins-Laniyi is the Dream Girls Project, which focuses on mentoring and empowering young girls.

The project has reportedly reached more than 500 girls through activities centred on personal development, confidence-building and mentorship. She also received recognition in 2020 for the initiative’s impact.

The programme reflects her interest in helping girls recognise their potential, pursue educational opportunities and develop the confidence and skills needed to achieve their goals.

Its focus on young people complements her wider advocacy for women’s advancement, connecting early mentorship with the longer-term objective of encouraging greater female participation in leadership and national development.

Political Career

Benjamins-Laniyi is a member of the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria’s ruling political party.

Her participation in partisan politics included a bid for the APC ticket for the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat ahead of the 2023 general election.

In 2022, she contested the party’s senatorial primary alongside three other aspirants. She finished as the first runner-up to Angulu Zakari, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented the Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje federal constituency.

Although she did not secure the party’s nomination, the contest marked a significant stage in her political journey and reflected her interest in elective office and women’s representation in governance.

Her political involvement subsequently intersected with her public service career when she was appointed to head the FCTA’s Women Affairs Secretariat in 2023.

Appointment as FCTA Women Affairs Secretary

On October 24, 2023, Benjamins-Laniyi was appointed Mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

She became the pioneer mandate secretary of the newly established secretariat, with responsibilities relating to women’s welfare, empowerment and development within the FCT.

The position brought her advocacy and community engagement experience into government administration. Her responsibilities included overseeing programmes and initiatives within the women affairs portfolio and contributing to efforts aimed at promoting social development in the nation’s capital.

Her appointment also marked a transition from political aspiration and private-sector work to a senior administrative role in public service.

She served in that capacity until her appointment to lead the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in 2026.

Appointment as Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved Benjamins-Laniyi’s appointment as Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in 2026.

The appointment took effect on April 18, 2026, for an initial four-year term. The Federal Government announced the appointment on May 14, 2026, alongside the constitution of the Centre’s Governing Council.

As the Centre’s 16th Director-General, Benjamins-Laniyi leads a national institution with a mandate to promote women’s development, gender inclusion, research, training and advocacy.

The Centre is named after Maryam Babangida, the late wife of former military Head of State General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. As Nigeria’s First Lady, Maryam Babangida championed women’s development through initiatives intended to improve women’s social and economic circumstances.

Benjamins-Laniyi’s appointment brings her background in communications, public administration, mentorship and women’s advocacy to an institution with a nationwide development mandate.

Priorities at the Centre

Since assuming office, Benjamins-Laniyi has highlighted the importance of improving institutional efficiency, strengthening service delivery and expanding opportunities for women and girls.

In outlining her agenda, she identified digital inclusion, skills acquisition, disability inclusion, intergenerational collaboration and gender mainstreaming as areas of focus. She has also emphasised teamwork, professionalism and improved organisational performance as important elements of the Centre’s work.

Her responsibilities include providing leadership for programmes designed to advance women’s empowerment and ensure that the Centre responds to the needs of women across different communities and circumstances.

The role also places her at the intersection of public policy, institutional management and advocacy for women’s participation in national development.

Personal Life and Christian Ministry

Benjamins-Laniyi is married to Pastor Tunde Benjamins-Laniyi, who serves at the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Throne Room, located at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The couple have four children.

She is also an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Her involvement in Christian ministry forms another part of her public life, alongside her work in communications, government and social development.

Her participation in major Christian gatherings, including The Experience, has connected her religious involvement with her professional experience in event hosting and public engagement.

Across these different roles, she has maintained interests in faith, mentorship, leadership and community service.

Birthday and Public Recognition

Benjamins-Laniyi was born on October 16, 1965. She marked her 61st birthday in October 2026.

Her public profile reflects a combination of professional experience, political participation, religious ministry and social advocacy. The Dream Girls Project has been identified as one of her youth-development initiatives, with reports stating that it reached more than 500 girls and received recognition in 2020.

Her professional credentials include Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Management Consultants and Certified Management Consultant status.

These qualifications, together with her communications background and experience in public administration, form part of the professional foundation she brings to her current leadership role.

Conclusion

Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi’s career spans communications, broadcasting, social entrepreneurship, women’s advocacy, politics and public service.

From founding DOXA Group and participating in mentorship initiatives to serving as the pioneer Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat, she has pursued work across the private and public sectors.

Her appointment as Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in 2026 represents the latest stage of that career. In the role, she leads a federal institution tasked with advancing women’s empowerment and development across Nigeria.