Nabila Aguele: On The Saddle Of Malala Fund

Nigeria has continued to produce world-class leaders in strategic sectors who are bringing honour and fame to the country

The latest addition to this crop of global leaders is Nabila Aguele, a lawyer and public policy expert, who was appointed the chief executive officer of the Malala Fund on April 1, 2026.

According to Nairametrics, she is the first Nigerian to lead the international organisation dedicated to advancing girls’ education. According to the media entity, Aguele’s appointment marks a defining moment for Nigeria’s growing influence in global development and education advocacy.

Aguele took over from Lena Alfi, after nearly nine years of leading the Fund, a transition that reflects a deliberate succession plan and signals confidence in Aguele’s capacity to guide the organisation into its next phase of global impact.

Before her elevation, Aguele was the chief executive of Malala Fund Nigeria, where she led programme strategy, operations, and advocacy. During this period, she strengthened partnerships, promoted evidence-based policy engagement, and amplified campaigns to dismantle barriers to girls’ education. In her new global role, she is expected to expand the organisation’s reach, deepen collaborations with governments and stakeholders, and champion policies that guarantee access to free, safe and quality education for girls worldwide.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Toronto and a Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law. While in law school, she actively participated in the Intellectual Property Law Clinic, the Moot Court Honour Society, and the Black Law Students Association, sharpening her skills in advocacy and legal reasoning.

Aguele also has a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD, graduating as valedictorian in 2014.

Her career journey began in the United States as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk at the United States Court of Federal Claims, then as a Patent Litigation Associate at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, and later as a Senior Litigation Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP. corporate clients.

She was at the American University Washington College of Law as a Professor and Practitioner-in-Residence, where she co-led the Intellectual Property Law Clinic and contributed to the training and mentorship of aspiring lawyers.

When she returned to Nigeria, Aguele focused on public policy and national development, serving as a special/technical assistant at the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and later as a special adviser at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

In 2024, she founded Fable Advisory, a consulting firm dedicated to promoting gender equality, innovation and social inclusion across Africa, a platform she used to influence policy reforms and support institutions working to empower women, girls and underserved communities.

While working at Malala Fund Nigeria from July 2024 to March 2026, she championed data-driven advocacy and narrative-based campaigns to address systemic barriers to girls’ education.

Aguele has served on the boards of Women for Women International and Girl Rising, where she played key governance roles, including vice-chair and chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

Her appointment is widely regarded as a milestone for Nigeria and a significant development in global advocacy for girls’ education. Her unique combination of legal expertise, policy experience and strategic leadership equips her to drive the organisation’s mission at a time when the need for inclusive and equitable education systems has never been more urgent.

On her new appointment, Aguele said, “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.”