Aisha Yesufu

Aisha Yesufu is a Nigerian civic and political activist known for her leading organizational role in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, advocacy for accountable governance and visible participation in the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.

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About Aisha Yesufu

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Civic activist, Political activist · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Governance accountability; Campaigning for the return of abducted Chibok schoolgirls; Police-brutality protests and the #EndSARS movement; Non-violent protest and civic participation
Country: Nigeria

Civic activist
Political activist

At a glance

Yesufu held a leading organizational role in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign for the return of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
She became a prominent public participant in the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
Her public advocacy has emphasized governance accountability, non-violent protest and civic participation.
In May 2026, Yesufu announced that she had joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress and intended to seek the Federal Capital Territory Senate seat in the 2027 elections.

Background and education

Yesufu's personal biography states that she was born in Kano on 12 December 1973 and traces her family origin to Agbede in Edo State; a Guardian Nigeria profile similarly described her as born to Edo parents and raised in Kano. Her biography also says that she earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology from Bayero University, Kano, in 1999 and later undertook a master's degree in pharmaceutical microbiology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Civic campaigns and public protest

Yesufu became publicly associated with #BringBackOurGirls after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl abductions and was identified in later reporting as one of the campaign's leading organizers. She also participated visibly in an Abuja #EndSARS protest in October 2020, when a photograph of her raising her fist was widely shared. These campaigns placed her broader advocacy for accountable government, non-violent protest and citizen participation in national and international view.

Recognition and political campaigning

BBC included Yesufu in its 100 Women list for 2020 and described her as an activist demanding good governance. In May 2026, she announced that she had left the African Democratic Congress, joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress and intended to seek the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections. The available reporting establishes her stated intention, but not a party-primary victory, formal nomination or election-authority-confirmed candidacy.

Affiliations

Citizens Hub Founder present

Timeline

2014 Became publicly associated with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign formed in response to the Chibok schoolgirl abductions.
2016-04-14 Reuters identified Yesufu as a #BringBackOurGirls coordinator at an Abuja protest marking two years since the Chibok abductions.
2020-10-10 Participated visibly in an Abuja #EndSARS protest; Time reported that a photograph of her raising her fist at the protest became widely shared.
2020-11-12 Chatham House listed Yesufu as a political activist and Bring Back Our Girls co-convener for a forum on non-violent protests and governance in Africa.
2020-11 Included in BBC's 100 Women 2020 list.

Additional verified details

Current context

On 6–7 May 2026, Yesufu publicly announced that she had left the African Democratic Congress, joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress and intended to seek the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat in Nigeria's 2027 general elections. This is a reported public announcement and stated electoral intention, not evidence of a formal candidacy confirmed by a party primary or Independent National Electoral Commission documentation.

Biographical facts

Yesufu's personal biography states that she was born in Kano, Nigeria, on 12 December 1973 and traces her family origin to Agbede, Edo State; Guardian Nigeria described her as born to Edo parents and raised in Kano.
Yesufu's personal biography states that she earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology from Bayero University, Kano, in 1999.
Yesufu's personal biography states that she later undertook a master's degree in pharmaceutical microbiology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
BBC included Yesufu in its BBC 100 Women list for 2020 and described her as a Nigerian activist demanding good governance.