Nabila Aguele has assumed office as Malala Fund’s Chief Executive Officer. She is Malala Fund’s first global CEO based in Nigeria, one of the organisation’s priority countries for grantmaking and advocacy and one of the countries with the highest numbers of out-of-school girls in the world.
Prior to now, she was CEO Malala Fund Nigeria, where she has overseen nearly $3 million in grants to local education advocates and supported a civil society coalition advancing education as a strategy to end child marriage.
In the last year alone, Malala Fund has awarded more than $9 million in grants to over 40 organizations working to advance and protect girls’ education in 10 countries.
According to Nabila Aguele, “I am honoured to step into this role at such an important moment for girls’ education and for Malala Fund. Having grown within this organisation and led our work in Nigeria, I know the strength of this team, the ambition of our strategy and the power of our partnerships. Building on Lena’s leadership, I am committed to deepening our impact and ensuring that every girl can claim the education she deserves.”
Co-founder of Malala Fund and Executive Board Chair, Malala Yousafzai, said: “Nabila is the leader this moment calls for. She brings deep policy and advocacy experience, trusted leadership within Malala Fund and a close understanding of what it takes to drive change for girls from the ground up. I am deeply grateful to Lena for guiding Malala Fund through an important period of transformation and helping build the foundation for this next chapter. I have every confidence in what Nabila and our team will achieve together.”
Co-founder of Malala Fund and Board Member, Ziauddin Yousafzai, said: “Lena’s leadership has helped bring stability, focus and strength to Malala Fund at an important moment in our journey. We are deeply thankful for all she has contributed. I have seen Nabila’s leadership up close, and she brings a rare combination of wisdom, integrity and deep understanding of the realities girls face. She is the right leader to carry this work forward.”
For the outgoing CEO, Lena Alfi, “It has been an honor to serve Malala Fund for nearly nine years, including the last three as CEO. I am deeply proud of the transformation this team has led together building a clear strategy, a strong leadership and a more solid foundation for the future. Nabila is an exceptional leader who has shown what it means to center girls’ needs, drive policy change and build with vision and care. I am proud to hand over leadership knowing Malala Fund is in the strongest possible hands.”
The transition follows a thoughtful succession process initiated by Alfi and supported by Malala Fund’s Board and leadership team. Last year, the organisation launched its 2025–2030 strategy, which Aguele will continue to oversee as CEO.
