Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya

EARLY LIFE

Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya was born Khadijah Abdullahi Kwangila Bida in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria, in 1975. Her family originates from Bida Local Government Area in Niger State. Her father, Alhaji Audu Kwangila, was a mechanical engineer and humanitarian. Her mother is Hajiya Aisha Sheriff Usman. She received her primary and secondary education in Kaduna. She studied Law at the University of Abuja for her first degree and later earned a master's degree in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos.

CAREER

Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya is a businesswoman, writer, and change advocate. She is the founder and Chief Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc. and Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiative (BMCCi), which addresses poverty, especially in Northern Nigeria, and is supported by the Women Community of Africa (WCA). She also established Rags to Riches (R2R) groups in government schools in Kaduna and Abuja. In 2012, she founded Search Inwards Magazine, a publication focused on issues affecting ordinary Nigerians, such as almajiranci (child begging), substance abuse, respect, women's financial empowerment, and education. In politics, she was announced as the vice-presidential candidate for the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) in the 2019 Nigerian general election, running alongside presidential candidate Fela Durotoye. She represented her party in the 2019 Nigerian Vice Presidential debate.

PERSONAL LIFE

Khadijah Abdullahi is married to Alhaji Haruna Dalhatu Iya, a civil engineer and former Deputy Director at CBN, who holds the traditional title of Iyan Nupe. They have five biological children (two daughters and three sons) and several adopted children.