Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya


Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya is a Nigerian social entrepreneur, author, and a social change advocate. She is the founder and Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc. and Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiatives which has an advocacy arm called the Women community of Africa. Khadija was the 2019 Nigerian general elections running mate for the Presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria party, Fela Durotoye.

Early life and education

Khadijah was born as Khadijah Abdullahi Kwangila Bida in Kaduna, Kaduna State. Her family hails from Bida local government area of Niger State, a typical Nupe family of Audu Bida her father who was popularly known as Alhaji Audu Kwangila was a civil engineering construction mogul in Nigeria and philanthropist. Her mother Hajiya Aisha Sheriff Usman. Khadijah was brought up in middle class Nigerian family which gave her the opportunity to be educated right from an early age. She attended both her primary and secondary education in Kaduna, she then got admitted into the University of Abuja to study Law and graduated with a bachelors of Law degree from the university. She earned her Masters in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos, Plateau State.

Career

Khadijah advocates for literacy in Nigeria and quality education In Nigeria. She is a member of the Nigerian Civil society Action coalition on Education where she participated in advocacy for literacy through fun learning from the cradle, and that has earned her an award for Excellence for her service.
Khadijah founded and became the Executive Director for Beyond Mentors Inc. and Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiatives, where she addresses and alleviates poverty especially in Northern Nigeria. BMCCi has an advocacy arm called the Women community of Africa. She also established the Rags to Riches clubs in 8 public schools in Kaduna and Abuja and its’ later extended to out of school programs collaborating with Life Builders Initiatives another NGO in Abuja & has grown to over 181 members.

Politics

Immediately after announcing he would pick a female running mate, the presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye announced Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya as his vice presidential running mate for the 2019 Nigeria presidential election. ] Khadijah represented her party at the 2019 Nigeria vice presidential debates.

Advocacy

Personal life

Khadijah Abdullahi is happily Married to Alhaji Haruna Dalhatu Iya, a building Engineer and former Deputy Director of CBN, he is from the Royal Family of Masaba Dynasty. He has the traditional title of Iyan Nupe. Together they have 5 biological children & adopted many others.