Foremost African Leadership Institute Hails Dr. Mairo Mandara's Appointment in Borno

By Ike Farooq/ABUJA// The Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa, IGLSA has congratulated the renowned medical practitioner and philanthropist Dr. Mairo Mandara on her appointment as Chief Adviser and Coordinator, Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian Support to Borno State Government.
The Director General of the institute, Lanre Adebayo, P.hD in a letter titled; CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL DESERVED APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF ADVISER AND COORDINATOR
ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PARTNERSHIPS AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF BORNO STATE, PROF. BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM, stated that “on behalf of the Governing Council of our Institute under the Presidency of Gen. Yakubu Gowon GCFR, PhD, Nigeria’ former Head of State, to formally congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment as Chief Adviser and Coordinator on Sustainable Development, Partnerships and
Humanitarian Support to the Executive Governor of Borno State.

IGLSA noted that Dr. Mandara’s appointment is against the background of her profound and exemplary national and
international profile.

An Obstetrician and Public Health Physician with a strong compassionate commitment to the
poor. Dr. Mairo has worked with high-level government officials,
traditional and religious rulers, women associations within and outside African Continent.

The Institute affirms Dr. Mairo’s selfless services have been recognized globally. And that her new appointment is an opportunity to further support local challenges her home state.

“You have made available your expertise and experience to Nigerian Universities such as the Universities of Maiduguri, and Ahmadu Bello as well as membership of the Governing Council of Nile University and a member of the Advisory Council of the Ondo State University of Medical Science”, IGLSA stated.

Dr. Mairo has led many initiatives, including as a Senior RH/HIV Advisor for USAID, a Health Systems Specialist for the University of Columbia, and as a Country Representative of the Packard and Gates foundations. Mairo was a Senior Fellow with the Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) UK supporting the localization of the foundation’s program in Africa, including Universal Health Care and PHC initiatives as well as leading on the Keeping Girls in School in Africa initiative. As part of her civic responsibility,

She is the founder and Board Chair of Girl Child Concerns, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through providing educational opportunities and life saving skill for girls, including married adolescents, and providing income generation for poor women. As part of this initiative and in her personal capacity, Mairo has in the last five years been deeply involved in efforts to rebuild Boko Haram-ravaged North East Nigeria; ensuring girls affected by the insurgency resume and have good education and women have income generation activities to rebuild their dignity.

Dr. Mairo is currently a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) that helps to shape and continuously improve the performance of the UN Central Emergency Response Funds. The Group also advises the UN Secretary General on global emergencies, and responses. She is also a Visiting Senior Lecturer at University of Maiduguri, and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Mairo serves as a member of the Governing Council of Nile University Abuja, the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Nigeria, and Advisory Council of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences.
Additionally, Mairo currently serves as the Special Adviser and Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian Support to the Executive Governor of Borno State, an Honorary Fellowship of Education (FoE) Member of the National Tertiary Health Institutions’ Standard Committee (NTHISC), and a member of the Health Sector Reform Committee nominated by His Excellency President Mohammed Buhari, GCFR.

The IGLSA however commends Governor Zulum’s recognition of this illustrious woman of substance and wish Dr. Mairo a successful stay in office.