Meet Rukayya Sani Abubakar
She is a graduate of Human Physiology who is also pursuing a certification in Midwifery. Rukayya currently volunteers with Every Pregnancy, a faith-based organization in Kano, dedicated to ending preventable pregnancy complications. She is also a member of the 9th cohort of The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards program. Her quest for direction and practical exposure within the health and development space led her to participate in the first-ever Kano cohort of the program in 2024.
Like many young graduates fresh from school, Rukayya wasn’t sure of the next steps to take after she graduated in 2021. It was in 2024, while still at a crossroads, that she came across The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards program via social media. She said, “I decided to give it a try, seeing it as a timely opportunity to learn, gain clarity, and better understand where I fit within public health.”
Looking back on her TNH-PHS journey, she thinks the program helped reshape her perspective. This was particularly so during both the 3-day orientation and immersion phases. Although she considers herself a work in progress, the experience helped her to better understand her interests and strengths. During her 3-month immersion with iDevPro Africa, she supported the organization with administrative tasks and in her words, “this exposed me to organisational processes and the support systems behind effective public health work.”
As a member of the alumni network, Rukayya sees the platform and the opportunities shared there as building blocks for honing her leadership acumen and accelerating her professional growth within Nigeria’s public health and development space.
Even more significant for Rukayya is the courage she gained to step outside her comfort zone. The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards Program shifted her mindset from hesitancy to proactiveness, encouraging her to take bold steps and trust the process. This mindset shift, she says, is a foundation she continues to build on every day.
Now clearer about her path, Rukayya aspires to become a leading voice in Maternal and Child Health, advocating for improved care and better outcomes for mothers and children. With her current work in maternal health and her growing professional experience, she is intentionally positioning herself to contribute meaningfully to this field. Rukayya is committed to her learning and impact in public health and community development. Her advice to young people passionate about change is simple: “Clarity does not always come before the journey; sometimes it is discovered by taking the first brave step forward.”
For Rukayya, The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards program was that brave first step and it continues to shape the path ahead.
