Speaking with Malala Yousafzai, Chinasa Anukam welcomes the global icon, providing a concise background on her extraordinary journey. Malala grew up in Swat, northern Pakistan, where the Taliban banned girls' education in 2009. At just 11 years old, she began writing anonymously for the BBC, detailing her life under the Taliban and her fight for girls' education. Her commitment, expressed in statements like, "I have rights, I have the right of education, I have the right to speak up," made her a target. In 2012, Malala was shot on her way home from school, an attempt on her life that made headlines and prompted a global rally of support. Following a miraculous recovery, she founded the Malala Fund in 2013, a global movement dedicated to championing girls' education worldwide. In 2014, Malala became the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Anukam quotes Malala’s resolute words from her acceptance speech: "This is where I will begin, but it is not where I will stop. I will continue this fight until I see every child, every child in school".
The interview, part of the series "ITST S5 SPECIAL," transitions into a relaxed discussion, with Anukam greeting her guest warmly and noting that Malala looks lovely. Malala shares that her day has been "really good" and that Nigeria is treating her well, specifically enjoying the food, mentioning jollof rice and plantain. Anukam’s first question focuses on food, asking if any Nigerian dish or snack would make it into Malala’s picnic basket. Malala instantly reveals that she is "obsessed" with puff-puff. She notes, however, that nobody had offered it to her on this trip, prompting Anukam to promise, "now that you've met me, we can fix that".
Beyond her activism, Malala shares surprising details, noting her ambition as a child to be a car mechanic. Currently, she loves "trying new things," including playing sports like cricket, golf, and badminton, believing that sports foster "self-esteem and confidence and just keep you moving". Her close relationship with her father is celebrated; she credits him as a "feminist dad who proves what it means to empower girls by doing the right things by standing with your daughters with the women in your community and ensuring to be their allies". Malala stresses the importance of male allies. Her father's most inspirational lesson is often quoted: "Don't ask me what I did, but ask me what I did not do, and I did not clip her wings". Malala interprets this as a call for more men to "not clip our wings," allowing women to fly, and to "be our allies, be advocates for our rights," thus playing a powerful role in challenging and changing patriarchy.
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When asked about her dream dinner with three women from history, Malala felt "under a lot of pressure to answer". Her list includes the Afghan heroine Malalai of Maywan, whom she was named after, noting that her powerful voice helped win the second Anglo-Afghan war, and that she is one of the few women in their history known by her own name. She would also bring her grandmother; someone she was close to but wishes she could ask every question about her life and childhood. Finally, she would invite Benazir Bhutto, the first female prime minister of Pakistan and the first female prime minister or president in all Muslim countries, for setting the example that "women can be in positions of leadership".
Malala shares her "favorite thing about being a woman," stating, "everything". She feels "so blessed to be a woman" and believes women make the world "beautiful [and] nurturing". Her hope is that women and girls achieve equal rights, are not oppressed or denied their rights, and are "given the space". She expresses great joy when she sees women "taking roles claiming the space claiming the power that they should have".
Returning to Nigerian culture, Anukam asks if Malala has any Nigerian artists on her playlist. Malala admits she needs recommendations, and Anukam suggests Asa, who is "very good," Tiwa Savage, who is "very good," and Burna Boy. Malala, who is not on her first visit to Nigeria, says her favorite thing about the country is the "determination of girls in Nigeria". She highlights the hope she derives from seeing the dedication toward education among girls from different backgrounds. She asserts that "the girls are already inspired" and know that education can transform their lives and suggests people should give more space to listen to girls. She recalls meeting a girl named Amina in 2014, who was the same age as Malala, and had advocated against her father to stay in school and not be married off. Eleven years later, Amina is now an activist advocating for other girls in her community. Malala notes that girls in Nigeria are not just talking about their rights, but they "want to claim a seat in the rooms where decisions about their future are made". They know that "just being given a platform to tell their story is not enough" and they "want to be taken seriously". Seeing them confidently refusing to "be happy with just... a little bit" and demanding "equal rights and... inclusion" gives Malala hope that Nigeria is changing.
Discussing her upcoming book, Finding My Way (out October 21st), Malala finds writing hard because it involves "going back to the whole journey of writing about your life," but also "really therapeutic". The one thing that would "blow 8-year-old Malala's mind" is the work the Malala of today is making possible. The younger Malala, who was ambitious and determined to see "one or two girls in her community have the right to education," would be proud of the partnerships and "collective work that is happening". For the younger Malala, the fight felt like a solitary one, but today, she would see hundreds of activists globally, including thousands of girls leading change in Nigeria, and would "not feel alone". However, Malala is quick to remind that 120 million girls worldwide do not have access to education, and Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children, affirming the scale of the change still needed.
Malala's father, Zia, shares his pride, stating that while many fathers are known by their sons, he is "one of the few fathers who is known by his daughter," a fact he is "so proud of". Anukam wraps up the conversation with five rapid Nigerian trivia questions, successfully confirming that Abuja is the capital city and Naira is the currency. Malala correctly identifies 'goat pie' as the one that is not a popular Nigerian snack.
In her own words, Malala says she is "still that girl from the north of Pakistan who wanted to complete her own education". She feels blessed to have completed school and attended university, viewing it as a "personal struggle a personal fight that I have won". Yet, she maintains that "we are not there yet until we see every girl in every part of the world including here in Nigeria have access to education". She wants a world where children no longer have to fight for this right, where every girl can make her dreams come true, reach her full potential, and benefit not only herself but her community. Anukam, expressing her admiration, assures Malala that this future "will because people like you are leading the work and championing this charge". The segment concludes with a final thank you and a short exchange with Cameron, a partner in Malala's mission, who affirms the "real difference" being made in Nigeria. Malala, who is staying in Nigeria for nine more days, asks for daily recommendations on where to eat and go. Zia describes Malala as a child in three words: "patient," "the sincerest person," and "stubborn in her mission".
