Founder's Biography
The story, journey, resilience and service of Hajja Aisha Talatu, Founder and Chairperson of the Aisha Ahmed Jika Foundation.
Early Life
Hajiya Aisha Ahmed Jika
Hajja Aisha Jika was born on March 24, 1972 in Gurin Wuro Yolde, the same town and birthplace of her mother, Hajja Fadimatu Jumba.
Her father, Dr. Mohammed Jika Maji Yaro from Yola, met and married her mother in Gurin while building the first hospital in the town.
Tragically, her father passed away when she was barely 2 years old. Raised by her mother, Hajja Aisha Talatu's early life was shaped by resilience, faith, and a deep connection to her roots.
Education & Marriage
Rooted in Education, Faith and Heritage
She began her education at Hammawa Primary School, Yola, and proceeded to Yelwa Government Secondary School, Yola.
Beyond formal education, she is also a highly accomplished Islamic Scholar.
Though she schooled in Yola, she spent every holiday in Gurin with her mother, staying grounded in her heritage. It was during one of those holidays that she met and married her husband, Late Alh. Salihu Hassan.
Her upbringing, education, faith and connection to Gurin became important foundations that would later shape her values and her commitment to serving others.
Family & Resilience
Strength Through Life's Challenges
Hajja Aisha Talatu and Alh. Salihu were blessed with five children, four of whom are alive today.
In 2015, the family faced immense loss. Her husband was killed in a bomb blast at a mosque in Jambutu, Yola, and one of her sons died in a fatal car accident that same year.
May their souls rest in peace, Ameen.
Through these profound personal losses and hardships, her resilience and faith remained a defining part of her journey.
Entrepreneurship
From Humble Beginnings to Enterprise
From selling kosai (bean cakes) as a young girl, Hajja Aisha Talatu built herself into a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur.
Through hard work and faith, she established business interests in commodity trading, real estate, and property development.
Her business operations span Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, reflecting a journey that grew from humble beginnings into a successful enterprise.
The Foundation
The Birth of Aisha Ahmed Jika Foundation
Shaped by her own childhood and her deep Islamic values, Gimbiyar Gurin developed a profound compassion for the downtrodden and less privileged.
She understands what it means to struggle and to need a helping hand. This conviction led her to establish the Aisha Ahmed Jika Foundation.
The Foundation is dedicated to the education of indigent children, with special focus on the girl-child.
Through scholarships, school support, and advocacy, the Foundation works to ensure that poverty is never a barrier to learning.
Her Vision
A Legacy of Service and Transformation
Today, Hajja Aisha Talatu leads the Aisha Ahmed Jika Foundation with a simple belief:
"When we educate one girl, we transform a family. When we educate many, we transform a nation."
After experiencing personal loss and hardship, she founded the Aisha Ahmed Jika Foundation to give back. The Foundation focuses on educating indigent children, especially girls, and empowering vulnerable families in our communities.
"Service to humanity is service to Allah."
Gimbiyar Gurin
A Life Shaped by Faith, Resilience and Service
From humble beginnings to entrepreneurship, philanthropy and community service, Hajja Aisha Talatu's journey continues to inspire a commitment to education, empowerment and positive transformation.