GCC leaders believe in using education as a weapon to help change the social & economic trajectory of Nigeria and Africa at large. They believe that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people, most especially girls can have that chance.
Dr. Mairo Mandara
Chairperson
An Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Public Health Physician with extensive knowledge and experience in strategic planning and implementation of health, social and development transformation initiatives, Dr. Mairo Mandara has worked with a wide range of stakeholder locally and internationally including high level government officials, traditional and religious leaders, women groups and civil societies across Africa. In addition to her carrier experiences and work as a gynecologist and Public Health Physician Dr. Mairo has led many initiatives including being the Senior RH/ HIV Advisor for USAID, Health Systems Specialist for University of Columbia, Country Representative of the Packard Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as Senior Fellow with the Children Investment Foundation UK. Dr. Mairo is currently the Chief Adviser and Coordinator on Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian Response to the Governor of Borno State responsible for leading the strategy team of the Governor for the rebuilding efforts of the state destroyed by insurgency. In addition, she is an Associated Research Professor at the Federal University of Health Sciences Azare and a visiting Senior Lecturer at the Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Dr. Mairo has served as 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, 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. Dr Mairo Mandara has served and currently serves on the Boards of many National and International NGOs as well as Private Sector Industries.
Dr. Mairo 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 lifesaving skill, including married adolescents, and providing income generation for poor women. As part of this initiative and in her personal capacity, Mairo has over the last ten years been deeply involved in efforts to rebuild the Boko Haram ravaged Northeast Nigeria; ensuring girls affected by insurgency resume and have good education at the GCC Girls Academy, Training Village Health Workers to provide basic health care services in rural communities, providing income generation opportunities for rural women and Vocational / Entrepreneurial skills for young people in the Lake Chad Region. Dr Mairo mentors a pool of young men and women across Africa, each of who has started their network of community, and business enterprises. Mairo Mandara was nominated as one of the three women building peace awards finalists for the prestigious USIP Global Women Building Peace Award 2025.
