WASHINGTON, D.C.– Nabila Aguele has been selected the next President of Malala Fund, the organisation announced on Tuesday, marking the first time a Nigeria-based leader will head the global girls’ education not-for-profit.
Aguele, who presently serves as President of Malala Fund Nigeria, will assume the brand-new role on April 1, 2026, following an organized leadership shift. She prospers Lena Alfi, who has led the organisation for almost 9 years, consisting of the previous 3 as CEO.
Her visit comes as Malala Fund increases its concentrate on countries with high numbers of out-of-school ladies, including Nigeria, which remains one of its priority regions for grantmaking and advocacy.
In her present function, Aguele has actually overseen nearly $3 million in grants to local education advocates and supported a civil society union advancing education as a strategy to end kid marital relationship.
“I am honored to step into this function at such an essential minute for girls’ education and for Malala Fund,” Aguele said in a declaration. “Having grown within this organization and led our work in Nigeria, I understand the strength of this group, the aspiration of our strategy and the power of our collaborations.”
She included that she would focus on deepening the organisation’s effect and making sure that girls are able to gain access to and finish their education.
Management Transition
The shift follows a succession procedure started by Alfi and supported by Malala Fund’s board and management group.
Under Alfi’s leadership, the organisation introduced its 2025– 2030 strategic strategy, broadened its international advocacy efforts and dispersed $32.5 million in grants to partners working to advance ladies’ education worldwide.
“It has actually been an honor to serve Malala Fund for nearly 9 years,” Alfi stated. “Nabila is an extraordinary leader who has actually shown what it implies to center ladies’ needs, drive policy modification and construct with vision and care.”
Malala Fund stated Aguele will continue supervising the execution of the organisation’s long-lasting method in her new role.
Worldwide Endorsement
Reacting to the visit, co-founder and Executive Board Chair Malala Yousafzai explained Aguele as a leader well fit for the moment.
“Nabila is the leader this moment requires,” Yousafzai said. “She brings deep policy and advocacy experience, trusted leadership within Malala Fund and a close understanding of what it requires to drive modification for women from the ground up.”
Co-founder and board member Ziauddin Yousafzai likewise applauded both leaders, keeping in mind that Alfi’s period brought stability and development to the organisation while revealing self-confidence in Aguele’s ability to lead its next stage.
The Fund’s United States Board Chair and a towering education figure in Nigeria’s education environment, a member of the committee that oversaw the organisational shift stated, “n the ~ 3 years that I have actually chaired the US board of Malala Fund, this transition is unquestionably one of my proudest minutes and I offer credit to the deep commitment to cause that Lena Alfi and Nabila Aguele Lena Alfi and have shown as noticeable custodians of Malala Fund’s worths. I likewise acknowledge and honor the knowledge and assistance of a genuinely devoted board and the vigorous work of a stellar executive leadership group.
Reflecting on my management journey, I’ve pertained to understand that when succession planning is embedded as part of organisational practice, leadership transitions require not be interrupted, nor do they need to be cold and medical. When these minutes of modification present with candidates that already care about the vision, the procedure of transition seems like such an unique present.”
Financing and Effect
In the past year alone, Malala Fund reported awarding more than $9 million in grants to over 40 organisations working to advance women’ education throughout 10 countries.
The organisation resolves a combination of advocacy and grantmaking to expand access to 12 years of complimentary, safe and quality education for girls globally.
Background
Aguele brings over 20 years of experience spanning law, public policy and international development throughout Nigeria and the United States.
Before joining Malala Fund, she functioned as a Special Advisor to Nigeria’s Minister of Financing, Budget Plan and National Preparation, where she championed gender-responsive fiscal policies and contributed to the development of Nigeria’s Integrated National Funding Framework.
Malala Fund, founded by Malala Yousafzai and her daddy Ziauddin Yousafzai, concentrates on making sure that ladies around the globe can gain access to and total secondary education, particularly in areas where barriers remain highest.