From Survival to Leadership: Women in Crisis | Aishatu Kabu | TEDxMaiduguri

A TEDxMaiduguri talk on women in humanitarian crises, drawing on the speaker's own displacement during the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. She argues that women should not be seen only as survivors, and describes how her path from displacement to founding ZEGCAWIS led to community-led work on girls' education, menstrual health and economic empowerment. The talk calls for women's leadership in crisis settings to move beyond responding to adversity toward shaping the future, building institutions and driving lasting change. The speaker, Aishatu Kabu, is a civic leader and gender advocate who serves as Founder and Executive Director of ZEGCAWIS and Director of Women for NECSOB Borno.

• Personal experience of displacement during the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State
• Founding ZEGCAWIS and community-led work on girls' education and menstrual health
• Economic empowerment and women's leadership in crisis settings
• Speaker background: CSW69 participation, Malala Education Champion, One Young World delegate

Drawing from her personal experience of displacement during the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, Aisha Damboa challenges the narrative that defines women in humanitarian crises merely as survivors. Through her journey from displacement to founding ZEGCAWIS, she demonstrates how women can transform lived experiences into community-led solutions, advancing girls’ education, menstrual health, and economic empowerment. She argues that women's leadership in crisis settings must move beyond responding to adversity towards shaping the future, building institutions, and driving lasting change. Aishatu Kabu is a civic leader and gender advocate from northeastern Nigeria committed to empowering women and girls as agents of change. As Founder and Executive Director of ZEGCAWIS and Director of Women for NECSOB Borno, she champions girls’ education, GBV prevention, women peace and security, and accountable governance. Her work has earned global recognition including participation at the UN CSW69 in New York, selection as a Malala Education Champion, and as a One Young World delegate. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx