Appointment of the Africa Federation Women's Board (AFWB) 2025 - 2028

CIRCULAR NO: AFED/040/26                                        Date: February 03, 2026 

APPOINTMENT OF THE AFRICA FEDERATION

WOMEN’S BOARD (AFWB)

The Africa Federation Chairman Alhaj Amine bhai Nassor is pleased to announce the appointment of Sister Raihana Kanji as the Chairperson of the Africa Federation Women’s Board for the term 2025 – 2028. 

Following her appointment, Raihana bai has finalized her team for the term, and we are pleased to share their brief profiles. The Africa Federation Women’s Board brings together a dynamic group of dedicated individuals, each contributing a wealth of experience, commitment, and passion towards the upliftment and empowerment of women within our community.

Raihana bai Mustafa Kanji – Kampala is a community leader known for compassionate, results-driven service. Born in Mombasa and educated in Nairobi, she earned a degree in Dispensing Optics from the University of Mumbai, India.

With over three decades of voluntary service ranging from youth mentorship and supporting underprivileged families to assisting Yemeni and Mogadishu refugees she brings both heart and hard-won experience to every role.

Before leading AFED’s Women’s Board, Raihana served more than 16 years as Chairlady of Kampala Jamaat, where the Jamaat expanded its reach under her stewardship. Her long service was recognized with the Bibi Fatema Award in 2021. She also helped establish the Jamaat orphanage and convened it from 1997–2001, early evidence of her commitment to building safe, dignified support systems for vulnerable children.

Appointed as Chairperson of the Africa Federation Women’s Board for the 2022 – 2025 term, Raihana bai has guided a portfolio focused on spiritual growth, digital inclusion, wellness, and economic empowerment.   

Looking ahead, Raihana bai has set clear, time-bound priorities with AFED: cancer awareness and screening in partnership with the Medical Board; advanced ICT education (including online banking and content creation) with senior-friendly tracks; expanded wellness programming; entrepreneurship bootcamps with micro-grants; and young-mothers’ child-development workshops within 6–12 months.

Admired for her clear vision and steadfast advocacy for women’s development, Raihana bai continues to inspire pathways for women to thrive spiritually, economically, emotionally, and intellectually across Africa.

Kanizefatema bai Mushtaq Damji – Dar-es-Salaam has built a diverse career spanning travel, hospitality, and community service. Professionally, she has managed two successful ventures – Mars Travels Limited in the travel sector and Delhi Darbaar Restaurant in the food industry and holds qualifications in Computer Knowledge, Travel Agency Operations, and Specialized Culinary Arts.

Her commitment to community leadership spans over two decades, with active service in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam. She has held key positions including Joint Secretary (3 years), Hon. Secretary (6 years), and Vice Chairperson (4 years) of the Ladies’ Management Committee. She is currently serving her second term as Hon. Secretary of the Africa Federation Women’s Board, and remains an active member of the Education Welfare Board and the Marriage Support Team, supporting brides and families. Additionally, she has guided youth as Patron of Youth at Service (YAS) and contributed across various sub-committees of the Dar es Salaam Jamaat.

Beyond her professional and community commitments, she is passionate about cooking and an adventurous traveller, holding a certificate for reaching Uhuru Peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Her continued service on the Africa Federation Women’s Board is seen as both a privilege and a responsibility. She is committed to leveraging her experience, leadership, and passion to empower women, nurture growth, and contribute meaningfully to the progress of the community.

Sukayna bai Gulamhusein - Mombasa is a dedicated member of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat Mombasa. Her passion for community service began early in life, even before her marriage, and has only grown stronger over the years.

She has actively served the community in various capacities as a committed volunteer, a madrassah teacher, and an organizer of numerous fundraising initiatives. Her dedication remained unwavering as she balanced family life with community involvement.

Once her children pursued their careers, Sukayna bai embraced an even more active role within the Jamaat. She took up key leadership positions, including serving as the Ladies Jamaat Secretary, where she played a vital role in laying the groundwork for the formation of the Women's Needs Board an initiative aimed at addressing the unique concerns of women in the community.

Sukayna bai was later entrusted with the role of Chairlady of the Mombasa Ladies Jamaat, a position she held for over four years, including during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership was marked by compassion, resilience, and unity.

Before stepping down from her post, she spearheaded a noble initiative that brought the entire community together: a campaign to raise funds for the construction of boreholes and wells in the coastal region, dedicated in remembrance of all departed souls (marhumeen). The initiative emphasized inclusivity, with donations as small as a penny, and Alhamdulillah, the response was overwhelming, marking a significant milestone for the Mombasa Ladies Jamaat.

Continuing her dedication to service, Sukayna bai accompanied a group of less fortunate women on a Ziyarat trip, under the AFED Women's Board. This spiritually uplifting journey was deeply fulfilling and a reflection of her commitment to serving with sincerity and empathy.

For Sukayna bai, community service is not just a duty it is a spiritually enriching experience that brings joy and purpose. Her journey stands as an inspiration to all, demonstrating the profound impact of selfless service.

Amenah bai Dhirani – Arusha originally from Dubai is an active member of the Youth Development Committee in Arusha, where she is committed to supporting, mentoring, and engaging with the youth, helping them develop their skills and confidence.

Amenah bai has a strong creative side, with a passion for video editing and graphic design, which she uses to enhance her community and educational initiatives. Her academic journey includes four years of study at the Hawzah in Qom, providing her with a strong foundation in Islamic knowledge, and she is currently pursuing studies in Montessori education, reflecting her commitment to early childhood development. In addition, she dedicates time to self-study of the Qur’an and Tafsir to deepen her understanding and practice of her faith.

Professionally, Amenah bai works as an Islamic playgroup teacher at Noor Play and Learn in Arusha, where she combines her educational training and creative skills to nurture and inspire young children. Her dedication to youth development, education, and community service reflects a genuine passion for empowering others and making a positive impact in her community.

Fatma bai R Visram – Dar-es-Salaam originally from has 14 years of experience in IT, with expertise spanning software development, implementation, support, building and maintaining IT systems, analytics, and dashboards. She holds a master’s in AI and Machine Learning and is passionate about leveraging technology to support her community.

In community service, she volunteers with the media team where she actively runs programs and ensures their smooth execution.  She also contributes to eye camp initiatives by analysing data and providing insights to support better decision making.

During her first term on the Women’s Board, she collaborated on initiatives including the Iran trip, Women’s Wellness programs, and ICT training for the elderly. She looks forward to contributing to programs that promote women’s health, develop practical skills, and foster spiritual growth, serving with dedication and teamwork and the vision of creating meaningful and lasting impact.

Rukaiya bai MT Nazerali - Mombasa is originally from Arusha has completed training in Neuropsychology, LDP, and MCE Teachers training. She is a full-time mother to two children, a 6-year-old son and a 21-month-old daughter.

Rukaiya bai has previously served as a Madrasah teacher in both Arusha and Mombasa. She has worked as the Administrator at Husayni Madrasah Mombasa and was also part of the Secretariat for the AFED QC in 2019.

She looks forward to working with the Africa Federation Women’s Board team to contribute to initiatives that empower women, promote growth, and bring about meaningful upliftment in the community.

Sayeeda bai Valli – Dar-es-Salaam is a dedicated professional with extensive experience serving within KSI Jamaat institutions in various capacities over the years.

Her career began as an IT Teacher at Al Muntazir Islamic Seminary, where she was later promoted to Head of the IT Department. She has also served as Head of the Girls’ Section, reflecting her commitment to educational excellence and leadership.

Beyond education, she worked as Operations Coordinator at A3 Institute of Professional Studies and is currently in her 8^th year as Administrator at the KSIJ Social Services department, where she works closely in initiatives such as IKWEP and the Bibi Khadija Grant, focusing on empowering families and women within the community.

Her leadership journey started early during her schooling as the Vice Chair of Banaatul Islam, a group for young girls’ development, and she has also served as Secretary of the Ladies Management Committee (LMC) in the years 2015 and 2016.

With a strong background in community service, education, and women’s empowerment, Sayeeda bai is committed to contributing to the goals of the AFED Women’s Board and supporting its initiatives to uplift and empower women, InshaAllah.

The AFED Secretariat extends its heartiest congratulations to Raihana bai Kanji and her team on their appointment and wishes them success in the accomplishment of the Board’s goals and objectives set out for the term 2025 – 2028.

The Email contact of the Board is women@africafederation.org

Secretariat