We are pleased and honored to welcome our Board of Directors member, Fatima Yerima Askira.

Ms. Askira is the Founder and Executive Director of Borno Women Development Initiative (BOWDI), an NGO based in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, that works to empower women and youth through education, advocacy, food security, and protection activities to become active participants in promoting peace and tolerance.

An experienced peacebuilding professional, she has advocated for youth involvement in countering violent extremism in several international fora, including the United Nations Security Council and the African Union, among others.

Ms. Askira is Secretary of the Nigeria Chapter of the African Women Leaders Network, a groundbreaking movement comprising a network of over 500 women across the continent who are working towards meeting the Africa Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

She is also a member of FEMWISE-Africa, an alliance that works to promote conflict prevention and mediation across Africa.

Finally, Ms. Askira leads an innovative mentoring program for Nigerian youth, including rescued victims of Boko Haram. In this role, she focuses on deradicalization and the creation of positive alternative narratives throughout northeastern Nigeria.

We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Askira to our Board. We look forward to her expertise and input as we continue to work towards peace and stability in Africa.