Niger

Baroukou is the founder and president of the non-profit Education, Migration, Peace and Development (EMPD), the current President of the Niger UGRAD Alumni Association, the Communication and Public Relations Officer of the Niger-U.S. Exchange Programs Alumni Association. He is an alumnus the Mandela Washington Fellowship and the Online Professional English Network. At Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Baroukou was the General Secretary of the English Club and is a current PhD student with 8 years of experience teaching English.

Baroukou is an active member of the Migration, Children and Youth Platform (UN-accredited network), the SDG Youth Connect West Africa, Network on Migration Development and Human Rights (REMIDDH), Yali Association Niger, Youth Movement for Development and Civic Education (MOJEDEC).

Baroukou is passionate about serving communities through volunteering. With EMPD, he organized teaching sessions for displaced children in Niamey, as well as for 30 children in Seno and Banga-Bana. He has organized three sensitization sessions on peacebuilding and violent extremism, social cohesion and peace, and drug consumption and youth in violence.

Djibo Niandou Madizé is a passionate advocate for deaf communities in Niger, working to create a society where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. He brings over five years of leadership experience and served as the president of Deaf Youth as well as a Secretary General of the Nigerien Sports Federation for the Deaf (FENISSOM), where he has successfully managed sports projects that strengthen athletes' talents and enabled the national team to participate in international competitions.

Djibo serves as Secretary General of the National Association of the Deaf where he leads efforts to re-energize the organization and expand its impact. He is also a dedicated mentor and volunteer teacher, supporting deaf students to overcome daily barriers in their education and helping them build confidence to succeed. Currently, he is in the process of establishing a national NGO focused on equal opportunities for all.

Trained in project management and skilled in budgeting, he brings both strategic vision and practical expertise to his advocacy work. Djibo remains committed to building bridges between communities in Niger, across West Africa, and with the United States to empower deaf youth and ensure every person feels they belong.

Issa Saley Adamou is a multidisciplinary professional with an academic background in English studies, literature, and civilizations, complemented by a State Diploma (BTS) in marketing and management, and a master’s degree in international humanitarian logistics.

He has experience in financial operations in the energy sector, working currently as an administrative assistant at NIGELEC (La Société Nigérienne d’Electricité). In addition, he is developing a strong specialization in humanitarian logistics operations.

Issa is actively engaged in civic initiatives in which he has developed significant experience in planning and leading community-oriented initiatives, especially through his role as President of An-Noreen, a humanitarian organization that he is currently working on creating, with the main goal of focusing on vulnerable communities and their needs.

Issa also has a strong interest in digital innovation, particularly in blockchain technology and digital marketing and how they can be used to build solutions with real impact on communities.

Lamine Maman is an English teacher who currently teaches at African Development University (ADU), the Islamic University in Niger (IUN), and Innovatec Solution Inc. He is interested in how technology can improve language teaching and learning, with a focus on the English Language. He recently completed a master’s degree in language, literacy, and technology at Washington State University through the Fulbright Program. Furthermore, he is interested in researching how emerging technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), can be utilized to improve teaching and learning experiences, particularly in low-resource contexts, like those in Niger.

Hassane Seydou Sahadatou is a master’s student in English at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, Niger. She is an English and French coach at Ling-edge Academy, and an Aspire Leadership Program Moderator, where she mentors students, leads information sessions, answers questions, manages groups, and ensures a safe and supportive environment for all participants. Her academic and professional interests focus on language acquisition, particularly cross-linguistic influences on English pronunciation among French-speaking learners. She is also passionate about creative and innovative teaching strategies that enhance learning in diverse and low-resource contexts.

Beyond her academic work, Sahadatou is actively involved in community development. She serves as the General Treasurer of the Niger UGRAD Alumni Association (NUAA) and is a member of YMCA Niger, contributing to youth empowerment and social impact initiatives.

She aspires to specialize in Curriculum and Instruction, using education as a tool to foster creativity and sustainable development in Africa and beyond.