Ummu Kalthum Muhammad
Ummu Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ummu Kalthum Muhammad September 22, 1995 |
| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Education | BSc in Social Work |
| Alma mater | Aldersgate University Philippines |
| Occupations | Social Entrepreneur, Activist |
| Known for | Founder Kalthum Foundation for Peace |
Ummu Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu is a Nigerian social Entrepreneur and peace‑building activist. She is the founder and executive director of the Kalthum Foundation for Peace, a non‑governmental organisation that works to counter violent extremism, promote girls’ education and provide medical services in hard‑to‑reach areas of Borno State.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Ummu Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu was born on 22nd September, 1995, was an orphaned at a young age, losing her mother when she was three and her father when she was seven. Raised in a modest household, she developed an early passion for education and community service. She completed her primary and secondary schooling in Maiduguri and earned a Diploma in Social Works from Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, and a bachelor’s degree in Social Works from the Aldersgate University, Philippines.[4]
Career and activism
In 2015, motivated by the rise of violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria, Rabiu established the *Kalthum Campaign for Peace*, a grassroots initiative aimed at promoting non‑violence, girls’ education and community reconciliation. The campaign was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2017 as the Kalthum Foundation for Peace.[5][6]
Key activities
- Medical outreach – provision of primary health services in villages inaccessible to government health facilities, in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).[7]
- Education programmes* – scholarships and school‑building projects for girls in Borno State.[8]
- Security collaboration* – coordination with the Nigerian military and the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure the safety of field operations and to support community‑based de‑radicalisation efforts.[9]
- Livelihood support to IDPs and youths[10]
Notable achievements
- In collaboration with the Northeast Coalition Against Terrorism, the Kalthum Campaign for Peace organised the first “Mega Rally for Peace” in Maiduguri’s Ramat Square (2016). The event was broadcast live on television and was attended by federal and state officials, senior military commanders, artists, women’s groups and students. At the rally, Rabiu and other speakers called on Boko Haram fighters to surrender through the Safe Haven Corridor.[11]
- Rabiu has been described as the youngest and most successful crisis negotiator in Africa. Working with the DSS and the Nigerian military, her NGO has helped rescue scores of individuals—including clergymen, humanitarian workers, students and judges—from Boko Haram captivity.[12]
Award and recognition
Rabiu has received several awards for her contributions to peacebuilding and humanitarian work, and features in regional publications on women’s leadership in conflict‑affected areas.[13]
Personal life
Ummu Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu resides in Maiduguri, where she continues to oversee the foundation’s programmes while advocating for the rights of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children affected by insurgency.[14]
References
- ↑ "literacy is a right but culture makes it powerful". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ "Kalthum foundation necsob borno youth parliament to host peacebuilding summit in maiduguri". ournigerianews.com. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ↑ "foundation begs abductors to free students idps in spirit of ramadan". News Agency of Nigeria. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ↑ "Kalthum for Peace the woman who turned pain into a mission of mercy". africanperceptions.org. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ↑ "foundation seeks stiffer penalty for gender based violence perpetrators". Daily Trust. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ↑ "Kalthum foundation for Peace marks international womens daycalls for greater inclusion in peacebuilding". ournigerianews.com. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ↑ "ngo train 30 women on peace building in borno". The Tide. Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ↑ "Peace building ngo trains 30 borno women". P.M. News. Lagos, Nigeria. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ↑ "kfp slams kawuri attacks urges vigilance in insurgency fight". abcnews.com.ng. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ "kfp condemns kawuri attacks calls for increased vigilance collaboration in fight against insurgency". ournigerianews.com. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ "infanticide i disagree with reuters says kpfs ummu Kalthum". saharaweeklyng.com. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ "Kalthum foundation for Peace condemns killing of msf staff in gaza calls for immediate ceasefire". ournigerianews.com. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ↑ "Kalthum foundation of peace leads youth engagement summit against violence extremism in borno". africanperceptions.org. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "Kalthum foundation condemns killing of msf staff in gaza urges ceasefire". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2025.