Meet Nabila Aguele, Nigerian leading $43 million Malala Fund as Global CEO

Nigerian lawyer and public policy expert Nabila Aguele has assumed office as Chief Executive Officer of Malala Fund, becoming the first Nigerian to lead the global organisation.

Her appointment took effect on April 1, 2026, following a planned succession process that saw outgoing CEO Lena Alfi step down after nearly nine years with the organisation.

Aguele’s elevation comes after leading the organisation’s Nigerian arm, positioning her to now drive its global strategy on girls’ education and advocacy.

About Nabila Aguele 

Nabila Aguele is an accomplished lawyer, public policy expert, and gender equality advocate with over two decades of experience spanning law, governance, and international development.

• She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Toronto.
• She later earned a Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law, participating in several academic and leadership activities including the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic, Moot Court Honor Society, and the Black Law Students Association.

Aguele also obtained a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD, where she graduated as valedictorian at the 2014 commencement ceremony in Fontainebleau. During her time there, she served as President of the Africa Club and was a finalist in the 28th INSEAD Venture Competition.

Her experience

Aguele began her professional career in the United States, working as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk at the United States Court of Federal Claims before moving into private legal practice. She served as a Patent Litigation Associate at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and later as a Senior Litigation Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, representing Fortune 500 companies in complex patent disputes.

• She transitioned into academia as Professor and Practitioner-in-Residence at the American University Washington College of Law, where she co-led the Intellectual Property Law Clinic and contributed to legal education and research.
• Her shift into policy and development saw her take on advisory roles within Nigeria’s public sector, including Special/Technical Assistant at the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, and later Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Nigeria.
• In these roles, she championed gender-responsive budgeting and played a key role in developing Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework.
• In 2024, she founded Fable Advisory, a consulting firm focused on advancing gender equality, innovation, and social inclusion across Africa.
• Before her current role, she served as Chief Executive of Malala Fund Nigeria from July 2024 to March 2026, where she led the organisation’s country strategy, operations, and external affairs, using data-driven and narrative-based advocacy to influence policy and shift societal norms around girls’ education.

Aguele sits on the boards of several global organisations, including Women for Women International, INSEAD, and Girl Rising, where she serves as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

What you should know

Malala Fund was founded to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education, Malala Fund has grown into a major global player in education advocacy.

The organisation has net assets of about $43 million as of March 2025 and has distributed over $73 million in grants through more than 560 projects across 27 countries.

In the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, it awarded $10.2 million in grants to 57 organisations across 10 countries. Its strategy focuses on flexible, multi-year funding, with at least 20% of grants going to organisations led by girls and young women.

Under its 2025–2030 plan, the fund aims to distribute $50 million, with a growing share already directed to women-led initiatives. Overall, the organisation has reached more than 26 million students globally.