Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou
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| First Lady of Niger | |
| In role 7 April 2011 – 2 April 2021 Serving with Lalla Malika Issoufou
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| President | Mahamadou Issoufou |
| Preceded by | Laraba Tandja Position vacant 2010-2011 |
| Succeeded by | Hadiza Ben Mabrouk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mainé-Soroa, Niger |
| Political party | PNDS-Tarayya |
| Spouse | Mahamadou Issoufou |
| Education | École nationale supérieure de géologie |
| Alma mater | University of Niamey |
Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou is a smart and dedicated woman from Niger. She is a chemist and an engineer who specializes in mining. She also cares a lot about healthcare. From 2011 to 2021, she was the First Lady of Niger. She is the first wife of former President Mahamadou Issoufou. She also leads a foundation called Guri-Vie Meilleure, which helps people.
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Early Life and Education
Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou was born in Mainé-Soroa, a town in the Diffa Region of Niger. She went to elementary school in her hometown. Later, she attended an all-girls high school in Niamey, the capital city.
A Pioneer in Science
Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou was one of the first women in Niger to study science. She earned a degree in mineral exploration and development. This was from a special school in Nancy, France, called the National School of Geology.
After that, she got her master's degree in chemistry. She studied at the University of Niamey, which is now known as Abdou Moumouni University.
Working in Mining
After her studies, Issoufou Mahamadou led the mineralogy division. This was at SOMAIR, a national mining company in Niger. SOMAIR is part of a larger company called Areva.
Advocacy and Philanthropy
Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou has always admired American civil rights leaders. She especially looked up to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
Visiting The King Center
In May 2012, she visited The King Center in Atlanta, USA. There, she met with Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter. This visit was part of her trip to the United States. She was looking for support to help reduce poverty and improve healthcare in Niger. She gave Bernice King a special plaque. It had crucifix symbols made by the Tuareg people.
Partnership with Merck Foundation
In March 2018, First Lady Aïssata Issoufou worked with the Ministry of Health. They partnered with the Merck Foundation. This foundation is linked to the Merck & Co. pharmaceutical company. Their goal was to make healthcare more available in Niger.
Focus on Health Areas
This partnership was announced on International Women's Day. It focused on several important health areas. These included oncology (cancer care), diabetes, and fertility services. They also worked on training more healthcare workers in Niger.
"Merck More than a Mother" Campaign
The Merck Foundation also named Issoufou Mahamadou an Ambassador. This was for their "Merck More than a Mother" campaign. This campaign works to end unfair social views against infertility. It also helps women who do not have children.
Supporting Women's Achievements
In March 2019, the First Lady hosted the Miss Intellect Niger awards. This event was held to celebrate International Women's Day. It highlighted the intelligence and achievements of women in Niger.
