This award was presented by Dr. Julie Petherbridge, Dean of Stetson School of Business and Economics Graduate Business School at Mercer University.
"The Outstanding Community Service and Civic Engagement award is provided to the student who has demonstrated ‘service before self’ as evidenced by notable service-learning experiences, active membership in service organizations, and outstanding work with a non-profit organization. First, let me give you background on Fatima. Before her MBA from Mercer, Fatima holds a distinguished Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Georgia State University. She is an accounting expert that has worked in several organizations in Atlanta, Georgia.
Now, let me give you a glimpse of her heart and desire for others. She is extremely passionate about African development issues relating to women and children. She is also an advocate of “improving women’s reproductive health in Africa.”
In her last semester of her MBA, Fatima came to see me about starting a non-profit organization. I had the privilege of seeing her passion for the women of Nigeria and Africa as she discussed her ideas. Over the last year, Haven Vesicovaginal Fistula Foundation was established with a strong board of directors, launched a website, and is currently raising funds.
Fatima’s vision of this foundation is to help women suffering from VVF in Africa. HVVF Foundation will provide assistance to all types of women suffering from VVF—old and young, educated and uneducated, and every other woman in between. The haven VVF Foundation will prevent VVF cases from increasing in Sub-Sarah Africa by bringing awareness to the condition. And that is the promise! A quote of Fatima’s from the website is that “Every woman should have the right to define her beauty and in the case of a VVF woman, their strength is an embodiment of their beauty.”
Fatima’s purpose for getting her MBA is to work a few years in corporate America to get broader business experience so she will eventually run HVVFF full-time. Fatima Abubakar fully puts service before self and is an inspiration to all. I am truly honored to present the Outstanding Community Service and Civic Engagement Award to Miss Fatima Abubakar. "
-Dr. Julie Petherbridge "
May -09-2019