Lalla Malika Issoufou (born 14 February 1975) is a Nigerien medical doctor and patron of many charities. She served as First Lady of Niger, alongside

Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou Aissata Issoufou Mahamadou (born ?) is a Nigerien chemist, chemical engineer, mining specialist, and healthcare advocate who served as First Lady of the Republic of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. She is the first wife of former Presid ...

, from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021 as the second wife of President

Mahamadou Issoufou Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1 January 1952) is a Nigerien politician who served as the President of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Issoufou was the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, president of the National Assembly from 1995 t ...

Career

Lalla Malika Issoufou was born on 14 February 1975 in

Niamey Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2012 census. As of 2017, population projections show the capital dis ...

, Niger. She holds a doctorate in medicine from the

Abdou Moumouni University Abdou Moumouni University (French: Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, UAM) was formerly the University of Niamey from 1974 to 1994. On the right bank of the Niger River in Niamey, its students and faculty have historically been involved in prote ...

and worked at the National Hospital in Niamey from January 2001 to September 2003. Issoufou studied at

Paris Diderot University Paris Diderot University, also known as Paris 7 (french: Université Paris Diderot), was a French university located in Paris, France. It was one of the inheritors of the historic University of Paris, which was split into 13 universities in 197 ...

in 2004-05 and was awarded a diploma in the treatment of HIV and other

sexually transmitted disease Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the older term venereal diseases, are infections that are spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, and oral ...

s, she also studied at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in 2005-06 and received a diploma in tropical medicine. In October 2011 she was made president of the Tattali Iyali Foundation, a

non-governmental organisation A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...

that treats

infectious disease An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable di ...

s in Niger. She is a patron of more than 27 other Nigerien societies and organisations largely related to health, women's rights, children's rights and education. Issoufou, via the Tattali Iyali Foundation, regularly presents food to the personnel serving in the

Niger Armed Forces The Niger Armed Forces (french: Forces armées nigériennes) (FAN) includes military armed force service branches ( Niger Army and Niger Air Force), paramilitary services branches ( National Gendarmerie of Niger and National Guard of Niger) a ...

and their wives during Ramadan. The foundation aims to improve the conditions of women and children in Niger; to improve the nutrition of pregnant women and children under five (and so reduce infant and maternal mortality) and to fight the illegal sale and counterfeiting of medicines. Issoufou has written on the dangers that

obstetric fistula Obstetric fistula is a medical condition in which a hole develops in the birth canal as a result of childbirth. This can be between the vagina and rectum, ureter, or bladder. It can result in incontinence of urine or feces. Complications may i ...

s present to Nigerien women during childbirth. Issoufou is married to the former Nigerien president

and they have three children. She shared the position of First Lady of Niger with Issoufou's first wife,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Issoufou, Lalla Malika 1975 births Living people First Ladies of Niger Women physicians Paris Diderot University alumni Pierre and Marie Curie University alumni People from Niamey 21st-century women physicians Abdou Moumouni University alumni