2019: Durotoye picks Abdullahi Iya, a lawyer as running mate
Presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye has announced Khadija Abdullahi Iya as his running mate for the 2019 elections.
Durotoye while announcing Abdullahi Iya as his running mate said she was picked after a great search and consideration.
He said Abdullahi Iya has a track record of adding value, and that she has done so much in the North East, stating that she is passionate about education and social impact, which ANN represents, and that she provides a balance for him.
“Established political parties talk about women empowerment but in their appointments, women are left behind. ANN is about opportunities for all, in equal proportion. Our administration will be made of 50 percent equal parity,” he said.
He said old politicians know how to play the game of money, but Nigerians are tired of people stealing from their bakery and giving them a crumb of bread.
He added that 2019 is not an election between APC and PDP, but a choice for Nigeria, between the old Nigeria and a new set of nation builders that will build a nation Nigerians will be proud of.
Responding to why he flagged-off his campaign with feeding, clothing over 500 less privileged, he said it is to show people that ANN will take beggars off the streets.
Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya is from Bida, Niger State. She is an Award winning Innovator, a Serial Social Entrepreneur, Publisher, Mentor, Author, and a Social change actor, passionate about her community, and doing something about it.
She had her LLB Law from the University of Abuja and Masters in Law & Diplomacy from the University of Jos. Continuous learning, focus & determination are her strategy to personal growth and development.
Khadijah founded a variety of social enterprises & businesses. Notably, she is the Editor-in-Chief /CEO of S. I. Magazine Ltd and an Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc.
She sits on the Board of a few SMEs and possesses over Ten (10) years experience in humanitarian and community outreach programs.
When the need arises Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya consults and facilitate programs and trainings for SME’s in collaboration with some Governmental/Non Governmental Agencies or organization.
She is the founder/Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc.- a non-Governmental organisation originally set up as a social enterprise which has evolved to an NGO- Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiatives (BMNI).
According to her, this was conceived out of the need to address and prevent poverty from the cradle in Nigeria especially, Northern Nigeria.
BMCCi has an advocacy arm called the Women community of Africa (WCA).
She Created, Established & launched Rags to Riches club in schools in Abuja, the club is inaugurated in eight public schools in Kaduna state extended to out of school programs (IDP Schools) in collaboration with Life Builders Initiatives another NGO in Abuja. R2R has grown to over 181 members.
Khadijah’s objective & belief is to keep finding innovative/creative ways to add value to community; advocating for literacy through fun learning from the cradle, Which earned her an award for Excellence; for promoting quality Education In Nig, from the Civil society Action coalition on Education for all (CSACEFA).
Her life’s goal is to chart a legacy through social impact. She is married to Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Iya Nupe, a retired staff of Central Bank of Nigeria.
