Lalla Malika Issoufou

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

Lalla Malika Issoufou
First Lady of Niger
In role 7 April 2011 – 2 April 2021 Serving with Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou
President	Mahamadou Issoufou
Preceded by	Laraba Tandja Position vacant 2010-2011
Succeeded by	Hadiza Ben Mabrouk
Personal details
Born	(1975-02-14) 14 February 1975 (age 49) Niamey, Niger
Spouse	Mahamadou Issoufou
Children	Three
Alma mater	Abdou Moumouni University

Career

Lalla Malika Issoufou was born on 14 February 1975 in Niamey, Niger. She holds a doctorate in medicine from the Abdou Moumouni University and worked at the National Hospital in Niamey from January 2001 to September 2003. Issoufou studied at Paris Diderot University in 2004–05 and was awarded a diploma in the treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, 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 that treats infectious diseases 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.^[1]

Issoufou, via the Tattali Iyali Foundation, regularly presents food to the personnel serving in the Niger Armed Forces and their wives during Ramadan.^[2] 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.^[3] Issoufou has written on the dangers that obstetric fistulas present to Nigerien women during childbirth.^[4]

Issoufou is married to the former Nigerien president Mahamadou Issoufou and they have three children.^[1] She shared the position of First Lady of Niger with Issoufou's first wife, Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou.

References

1. "Her Excellency – Dr. Lalla Malika Issoufou MAHAMADOU". Centre for Economic and Leadership Development. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
2. "Don de la Première Dame Dr Lalla Malika Issoufou aux épouses des agents des Forces de Défense et de Sécurité de Niamey : La Première Dame exprime son soutien et sa solidarité aux FDS | Tamtaminfo". Tam Tam (in French). 2 July 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
3. "Entretien avec la première dame du Niger, Madame le docteur Lalla Malika Issoufou Mahamadou, présidente de la Fondation Tattali-Iyali | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". Adiac Congo (in French). 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
4. "La lutte contre la fistule obstétricale, un combat pour la dignité humaine - L'info qu'il vous faut au Niger". Ici Niger (in French). 4 October 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.