Remembering Rakietou Hassane Mossi: A Humanitarian Legacy Across Africa
By Musa Abdullahi Sufi
When news broke on 17 August 2022 that Rakietou Hassane Mossi, widely known as Kia Mossi, had passed away, the humanitarian community across Africa and beyond fell into silence. Tributes poured in for a woman remembered not only as a devout Muslim but also as a rare blend of humility, generosity, and professional excellence.
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Her death marked the end of a vibrant life, but not of her impact. Months later, her legacy was formally immortalized when the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano under the leadership of its founder Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, unveiled School of Nursing Sciences named in her honor.
The decision, according to the University’s founder, Professor Gwarzo, was a reflection of her immense contributions to education, health, and humanitarian work across the continent.
A Humanitarian Who Saw Borders as Bridges
Rakietou’s work as a development practitioner carried her across Africa from Niger and Chad to Nigeria, Abuja, and beyond. She engaged in initiatives aimed at reducing maternal mortality, empowering women, and supporting vulnerable communities to mention but few.
Her projects brought practical solutions to communities that often felt forgotten.
“She was Godly, talented, and selfless,” Professor Gwarzo recalled during the naming ceremony. “Her contribution to the establishment of MAAUN was enormous and unquantifiable. She supported accreditation processes, connected students to NGOs, and stood firmly behind our mission.”
Her professional impact was matched by a personal devotion to faith and community. Beyond development projects, she quietly supported mosques, orphans, and families in need, always insisting that service must be both spiritual and practical.
Honored in Life, Immortalized in Death
At the unveiling of the School of Nursing Sciences in August 2022, her father, Colonel Hassane Mossi, described the moment as bittersweet. Standing beside his family and members of the MAAUN community, he accepted a posthumous Honorary Doctorate Degree on behalf of his daughter. “This honor does not only belong to my daughter,” he said. “It belongs to every family who raises a child to serve humanity with sincerity.”
Colleagues and friends echoed similar sentiments. Dr. Shuaibu Tanko, Vice President of MAAUN Maradi, described her as “more than a friend—a sister.” Dr. Abba Jidda, Head of Nursing Sciences in Maradi, called her “a good ambassador of Islam, gentle, humble, and peaceful.”
For many, her absence is felt most in her daily reminders: to pray, to remain honest, and to treat time as a sacred trust.
A Personal Impact Beyond the Headlines
For those who worked closely with her, Rakietou’s influence was personal as much as professional. She carried a unique balance of faith, discipline, and empathy. She reminded colleagues to remain accountable and grounded, urging them to place humanity above all else.
She was religious, patient, and jovial. She dedicated her life to helping the less privileged. Her obsession with supporting the downtrodden was second to none. To me, she was a constant source of guidance and encouragement.
Her unwavering support extended to institutions as well. At the request of Professor Gwarzo, she gave her strength and insight to the Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo Foundation (AAGF), helping it advance its mission of education, health, and humanitarian intervention.
Carrying Forward Her Vision
In her honor, AAGF has continue projects that reflect her values, providing scholarships, building boreholes, and creating opportunities for communities across Africa.
Professor Gwarzo noted that she is the first Nigerien national to have a Nigerian institution named after her, a symbol of how her work transcended nationality and ethnicity.
Her legacy is now etched not only in the memories of those who knew her but in the future of nursing and healthcare education in Nigeria.
Generations of students will walk through the halls of the Rakietou Hassane Mossi School of Nursing Sciences, learning the very values she lived by: service, compassion, and integrity.
A Light That Still Shines
For all her global work, Rakietou’s character was defined by simplicity. She lived quietly, prayed consistently, and gave generously. She believed that true faith manifests in service to others and she lived that creed to the end.
Her story is one of faith meeting action, and of humanity elevated by compassion. Though gone, her life continues to serve as a reminder that the world is changed not only by grand gestures but by the steady, sincere acts of those who love humanity more than themselves.
May Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings, reward her good deeds, and grant her Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.