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 and social transformation initiatives, Dr. Mairo has worked with a wide range of stakeholder locally and Internally 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, 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 Packard Foundation and Gates Foundation. Dr. Mairo is currently 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 initiative as well as leading on Keeping Girls in School in Africa Initiative.

As part of her civic responsibility, 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 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 the Boko Haram ravaged North East Nigeria; ensuring girls affected get by insurgency resume and have good education and women have income generation activities to rebuild their dignity.

Dr. Mairo is presently 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.

Dr. Mairo is a Visiting Senior Lecturer at University of Maiduguri, and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She serves 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.