Amina Zakari

Nigerian education activist who established girls' schools in northern Nigeria's conflict zones

Amina Zakari is a pioneering educator from Kano, Nigeria, who founded the Girls Education First Initiative in 2008. Operating in regions affected by Boko Haram violence, her schools provide safe learning environments for over 3,000 girls annually. She developed a mobile classroom system using solar-powered tents that can be quickly relocated during attacks, ensuring continuity of education. Her curriculum integrates STEM education with cultural preservation through Hausa language instruction.

Zakari's program has a 92% graduation rate among girls who otherwise face early marriage and forced displacement. Her work was recognized by the Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2020 for promoting education as a peacebuilding tool. She partnered with UNICEF to create the School-in-a-Box program distributed across Northeast Nigeria. Her advocacy led to Nigeria's 2019 policy mandating girls' hostels in all federal schools.