Mairo (Maryam) Ibrahim is the Founder and Executive Director of Tunani Initiative, a Nigerian non profit organisation working to strengthen democratic governance, promote civic participation and advance the inclusion of women and young people in decision making.
With over seven years of experience in development research and civic engagement, Mairo (Maryam) Ibrahim has built a career around public policy, legislative advocacy and efforts to make governance more responsive to citizens’ needs.
Through Tunani Initiative, she leads programmes across four key thematic areas: Democracy and Inclusion, Peacebuilding, Climate Democracy and Information Ecosystems.
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From Voter Education To Institutional Advocacy
Tunani Initiative began its work in 2022 with the launch of the Let’s Vote 9ja campaign, an initiative designed to encourage voter registration and educate citizens ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
Working in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the initiative registered more than 100 new voters and reached over 1,500 people with voter education in resettlement communities across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The experience highlighted the importance of taking civic education beyond election periods and creating opportunities for citizens to participate meaningfully in governance.
The initiative’s work was further shaped by Mairo (Maryam) Ibrahim’s engagement with the National Assembly during the 2025 budget cycle and her interactions with young Nigerians on issues affecting their communities.
These experiences reinforced the organisation’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between citizens and public institutions.
Tunani Initiative was officially registered in March 2025 and has since expanded its activities across its four thematic areas.
Experience In Legislative Advocacy And Policy Research
Beyond her work with Tunani Initiative, Mairo (Maryam) Ibrahim has gained experience in legislative processes and policy development.
She served as a clerk to three sub-committees of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, where she contributed to the preparation and validation of the 2025 Appropriations Act.
Her involvement in legislative advocacy also includes efforts to advance the Special Seats Bill, which seeks to improve women’s representation in Nigeria’s legislative institutions. She led advocacy activities on the bill as a 2024 Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) alumna, under a programme supported by the European Union in Nigeria.
These engagements reflect her interest in strengthening democratic institutions and promoting policies that address gaps in political representation.
Promoting Youth And Women’s Participation In Governance
Mairo (Maryam) Ibrahim’s advocacy extends beyond Nigeria. She represents Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on the Leadership Council of the Youth Democratic Network (YDN), where she contributes to efforts to strengthen youth participation in democratic processes.
She has also participated in several policy and civil society engagements, including the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) Civil Society Cohort in Abuja.
In addition, she has shared her knowledge of policy analysis and evidence-informed advocacy as a speaker during Module 4 of the Civic Activism and Policy Advocacy Academy (Y-CLAP). She also featured on the unAmplified podcast hosted by Cynthia Mbamalu, where issues relating to civic participation and governance were discussed.
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