Malala Fund Appoints First Nigerian-Based Global CEO

Malala Fund has appointed Nabila Aguele as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026.  

She becomes the organization’s first global CEO based in Nigeria, succeeding outgoing chief exec Lena Alfi, with a mandate to ensure more girls have access to education.

Meet Nabila Aguele, the New Malala Fund CEO 

Aguele became Malala Fund’s first leader based in Nigeria. The African nation is a priority for the organization’s grantmaking and advocacy, and is among the countries with the highest numbers of out-of-school girls globally.

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Leading Malala Fund Nigeria, Aguele has overseen nearly $3 million in grants to local education advocates. She has also supported a civil society coalition pushing education as a key strategy to end child marriage.

“I am honored to step into this role at such an important moment for girls’ education and for Malala Fund,” Nabila Aguele, incoming CEO, said. “Having grown within this organization 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.”

Aguele is a cross-sector leader with over 20 years of experience spanning law, policy, and international development, across the U.S. and Nigeria. Before joining Malala Fund, she served as a Special Adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning. In this role, she championed gender-responsive fiscal policies and budgets and helped craft Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework.

Lena Alfi’s Giant Strides for the Malala Fund

Lena Alfi has led Malala Fund as CEO since late 2022, marking nearly nine years with the organization. Under her leadership, Malala Fund launched its 2025–2030 strategic plan and drove key advocacy initiatives for girls’ rights and resources. 

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The organization also distributed $32.5 million in grants to partners working to expand girls’ education globally. Alfi also built a new leadership team centered around leaders from Malala Fund’s countries of operation, appointing Nabila Aguele as Chief Executive in Nigeria and Nishat Riaz as Chief Executive in Pakistan. In 2025 alone, the Malala Fund has awarded more than $9 million in grants to over 40 organizations working to advance and protect girls’ education in 10 countries.

“It has been an honor to serve Malala Fund for nearly nine years, including the last three as CEO,” Lena Alfi, outgoing CEO, said. “I am deeply proud of the transformation this team has led together — building a clear strategy, 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 Founding Story of the Fund and What’s Next

Malala Yousafzai’s story and her founding of the Malala Fund are inspiring. Growing up in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, she was shot by the Taliban for advocating for girls’ education. Thankfully, she survived and continued her fight. 

With her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, providing unwavering support, they co-founded the Malala Fund in 2013. Their mission is to ensure all girls can access and complete 12 years of education. 

Globally, 122 million girls remain out of school, including 34 million of primary school age, 28 million of lower-secondary school age, and 58 million of upper-secondary school age. While the number of out-of-school girls has decreased by 39 percent over the last 20 years, progress has stalled recently, with the number of girls out of school in some regions reaching as high as 48.1 percent.

Through grantmaking and advocacy, Malala Fund is strengthening girls’ right to secondary education and unlocking resources needed for all girls to enjoy this right.

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She also endorsed the appointment of Aguele as the new CEO of the non-profit organization. “Nabila is the leader this moment calls for,” she said. “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.”

The transition follows a thoughtful succession process initiated by Alfi and supported by Malala Fund‘s Board and leadership team. Last year, the US-based organization launched its 2025–2030 strategy, which Aguele will oversee as CEO.

Main Image: L-R, Lena Alfi, Malala Yousafzai, and Nabila Aguele. Image Credit: Malala Fund