Her Excellency, Hajiya Aisha Atiku Bagudu, wife of Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the former Governor of Kebbi State is a compassionate humanist and dynamic philanthropist who has over the past decade and half been a hope-giver to thousands of otherwise hopeless citizens of the country.
Inspired by her father’s worldview and philanthropic activities, It was a natural progression for her to also be passionate about philanthropy. It enabled this soft-spoken and workaholic Nigerian to give full expression to her passion for the less privileged across the various intervention schemes of the foundation from providing scholarships to children to supporting mothers with startups across Nigeria.
Thus whilst playing the role of a mother and wife, philanthropy had become to her a wider family philosophy. Hence when in 2009, long before becoming the First Lady of Kebbi, she set up the Mass Literacy for Less Privileged and Almajiri Initiative (MALLPAI), it did not come as a surprise. Again, just like her quiet mien, the NGO as quietly gone about its business of enhancing the quality of life of Nigerians by supporting and empowering initiatives that improve access to health, education and agricultural opportunities.
Mallpai aims to strengthen skills and productive capacity, improve mother and child health care and re-integrate women and girls who have dropped out of school back to formal education and skills acquisition. It is also focused on addressing the challenges of the Almajiris, by ensuring their education whilst preserving their cultural and religious peculiarities.
The foundation has subsequently invested extensively in the return of out of school children to school and in the girl child education. It continues to empower indigent women and vulnerable groups across the country through skills acquisition initiatives from its offices in six states (Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, Edo, Delta and Lagos) and FCT where it is headquartered.
Mallpai is at the vanguard of the economic empowerment of women and the societal vulnerable as a veritable platform for sustainable socio-economic development of the country. At the last count, the foundation had directly empowered over 5,000 small business start ups. This is besides the usual intervention programmes at IDP camps and host communities
Her Excellency, a Suru amazon is a hugely successful and enterprising business woman who has brought her business acumen to bear in driving the Mallpai vision that we today, celebrate.
Hajiya Aisha Bagudu has been honoured nationally and internationally with several awards and titles, in recognition of her efforts in steering the path of humanity. She is often recognised as the Mother of Hope.
