“Most people can’t point to the moment their purpose began. I can. There was no warning, training, just instinct and a deep sense that something had to change.”

What happens when a life-altering moment meets relentless drive? You get Rakiya Abdullahi, a public health expert, policy advocate, storytelling photographer, and an independent consultant. Her journey from personal crisis to professional impact is a testament to resilience and determination.

At Eureka Idea Co., our team is not just a collection of professionals; we are a tapestry of unique journeys that fuel innovation and transformation. Each individual brings their own story, and today, we shine the spotlight on Rakiya Abdullahi.

At just 12 years old, Rakiya stumbled upon her pregnant aunt having an eclamptic seizure in a rural village in Eastern Nigeria. “I was the only one who saw her,” she recalls. “I screamed for help. We didn’t even have a working car. She was rushed to the clinic on a motorbike.” Her aunt survived, and so did the baby. But that experience left a mark deeper than most. It lit the spark that would shape Rakiya’s work, ensuring no woman ever faces such a situation without help.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in medical microbiology while never losing sight of her true calling: maternal and public health. “Even while studying microbiology, I was always drawn to maternal health. That incident with my aunt never left me.”

Her early passion led her to the Federal Ministry of Health after graduation, where her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stint exposed her to the department of international cooperation, which also handled some maternal health projects, to achieve the MDG 5. Rakiya didn’t stop at one degree; she later earned a Master’s in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics, recognizing how deeply policy and resource allocation impact health outcomes. “Beyond fieldwork, we needed stronger policies — and policies need data, evidence, and sound economics to drive change.”

Now pursuing a DrPH in Community Health Behaviour, she blends the analytical with the empathetic, a rare combination in a world that often forces us to choose one or the other.

Prior to joining Eureka, Rakiya worked with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). In Katsina State, Nigeria, she led a groundbreaking project that trained over 435 community drivers to recognize pregnancy complications and transport women safely from communities to health facilities and from facility to facility, in a bid to strengthen the Emergency Transportation System (ETS) in the state. She also worked closely with traditional birth attendants, ensuring they could identify danger signs early and refer women for timely care in coordination with the drivers.

During her time with CHAI, one incident crystallized the stakes of her work: a woman, unconscious and bleeding from postpartum haemorrhage, was brought to the clinic on a cattle cart. Rakiya acted fast, using the just-launched motorbike ambulance to refer her for life-saving care at a secondary level. “They started calling those bikes ‘Rakiya’s Bikes.’ It was surreal.” That project won the €1 million Horizon Birth Day Prize and saved countless lives.

After a decade in the field, Rakiya pivoted to consulting – a move driven by professional ambition and motherhood. “Consulting gave me the flexibility to be present for my daughter while continuing meaningful work,” she says. “And Eureka felt different. It wasn’t just about projects but about people and energy.”

Her biggest challenge has been navigating the cultural nuances of working in diverse communities. “In northern Nigeria and Sierra Leone, people operate with a deep respect for hierarchy. It was tough to communicate urgency without being perceived as disrespectful.” But she adapted, learning to influence without authority and becoming a better leader, communicator, and team player.

She also led an initiative to improve the uptake of the 2nd dose of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for adolescent girls in Kenya. Her team introduced a triage system that screened HPV vaccination status, no matter why girls aged 9-14 came to the clinic. This remains one of her proudest accomplishments. “That small shift increased HPV vaccine completion rates by 25% in the pilot county,” Rakiya recalls. “It earned us a speaking slot at the IPVC Conference in Washington.” She also worked on introducing the COVID-19 vaccine across Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Cameroon and contributed to a peer-reviewed publication on disrupted childhood immunization in Cameroon.

Outside of consulting, Rakiya is a passionate travel photographer. “I’m not a commercial photographer. I tell stories. I take pictures in communities, with no agenda, just impact.” She derives pleasure from spending quality time with her tight-knit family. “I talk to my mom and siblings every single day. That bond grounds me.”

Today, Rakiya is a core member of the Eureka team, bringing insight, energy, and heart to every project. “Eureka helps me connect my ideas, my evidence, and my action—all while staying mission-driven.”

She’s living proof that sometimes, the most extraordinary careers don’t begin with a plan, but with a scream, a shift, and a woman determined to change the system from the inside out.

Stay tuned for more stories of impact and innovation from the Eureka team. Follow us to see how our experts are shaping the future of global health.