Zainab Abdulfattah is a seasoned development professional with over 5 years of experience in community development and project management. Currently, she serves as a project manager for the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) – Nigeria, where she oversees projects aimed at promoting and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. As an activist, Zainab advocates for gender equality, inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in power and decision making, and advocates against gender based violence.

She is specifically interested in empowering women and girls from poor and underserved communities, including refugees and those who were affected by the Boko Haram insurgencies. Deeply committed to the sectors of education and leadership, Zainab founded the ELI Initiative in 2024, with the sole aim of promoting education, leadership and inclusion in order to help the young people of Northern Nigeria achieve academic, personal and professional excellence.

Through her initiative, she has empowered adolescent boys and girls by teaching them sign language, leadership, and communication skills, which has boosted their confidence, fostered inclusivity, and enabled them to thrive as leaders.

She has received various awards and recognitions such as the NAPS Miss Physics Award 2017, Miss Personality Award TBI 2018, the SDSN Women SDG’s Advocate 2024, She Leads Africa Top 50 Motherland Moguls Award 2024, and the Jewel Outstanding Education Advocates Award 2023.

Check out more on Zainab’s work on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Tags: advocacy, community development, education, GBV, Human Rights, Justice, social justice, women leaders