Who We Are

Proven capacity, now matched with funding and advocacy.

Cigari Healthcare and Empowerment Foundation is a registered not-for-profit, non-political organisation headquartered in Gombe State, Nigeria. We exist to close the gap between what vulnerable communities in Northeast Nigeria need and what they can access.

01 — Our Story

We were not founded in a vacuum.

Cigari was founded to organise, fund and scale work that trusted institutions within our community were already doing.

The members of the Foundation resolved to establish a constitution and be governed by its provisions, formally constituting Cigari as a not-for-profit, non-political entity registered and headquartered at No. 10, N & H Plaza, TJ One Junction, Federal Low Cost, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.

That distinction matters to every partner who has ever been burned by an NGO with a compelling narrative and no delivery capacity. Ours is the reverse: proven delivery capacity, now being matched with the funding and advocacy architecture to grow it responsibly.

Our starting point

Not from zero

Scaling a foundation that already works

26 Yrs

Clinical credibility

Kumo Medical Clinic's patient data and ground-truth community health needs.

8 Yrs

Training infrastructure

Barunde College's students, trainers, curriculum and research capacity.

3-in-1

One value chain

Need identification, talent production and funded delivery under one coordinated model.

02 — Vision & Mission

What we are building towards

A clear destination and a practical mission that shape every programme we design.

Our Vision

A Northeast Nigeria where every individual regardless of gender, income, or circumstance has equitable access to quality healthcare, quality education, and the tools to build a self-sufficient future.

Our Mission

To advocate for inclusive policy, deliver quality health and education services, and empower women, youth and vulnerable populations through sustainable, community-owned programmes delivered in partnership with local and international allies.

03 — Our Values

How we hold ourselves

Five values govern how every resource and relationship is handled.

Integrity

We steward every resource entrusted to us with full transparency and accountability.

Equity

We design for the most marginalised first, not last.

Evidence

Our programmes are grounded in real clinical and community data, not assumption.

Partnership

We build with communities and institutions, not for them.

Non-partisanship

We are strictly not-for-profit and non-political, serving need alone.

04 — Our Ecosystem

An integrated ecosystem, not an idea

Most NGOs ask a donor to trust a plan. Cigari asks a donor to scale a system that is already running. Three interconnected, mutually reinforcing entities form a complete value chain — from clinical insight, to trained talent, to funded, accountable delivery.

Service Delivery

Kumo Medical Clinic

26 years of patient data, real community health needs and a trusted clinical brand.

Value to donorsEvidence-based programme design and an immediate, credible delivery channel.

Human Capital Production

Barunde College

Students, trainers, curriculum and research capacity built over eight years.

Value to donorsA renewable pipeline of skilled local talent to staff and sustain programmes.

Funding & Partnerships

Cigari Foundation

Grant eligibility, tax benefits, structured programmes, governance and compliance.

Value to donorsA compliant, fundable vehicle that converts capital into measurable community outcomes.

Closed loop

How the three entities reinforce one another

This is a closed-loop model. Kumo Medical Clinic surfaces the real, ground-truth health needs of the community. Barunde College trains the community health workers, teachers and administrators required to meet those needs. Cigari Foundation secures and stewards the funding that lets both institutions scale their reach — then channels the outcomes back into evidence for the next round of investment.

The model

3-in-1

Service, talent & funding under one coordinated model

05 — Aims & Objectives

Seven interlocking constitutional commitments

Cigari's constitution commits the organisation to seven objectives spanning advocacy, education, health, empowerment and humanitarian response. Each is a lever within the same theory of change: healthier, better-educated, economically empowered communities are more resilient communities.

Inclusive Policy Advocacy

Advocate for inclusive policies that strengthen health systems, promote gender equality, and enhance educational access for marginalised groups.

Access to Quality Education

Promote access to quality and inclusive education for children, youth and adults through scholarships, literacy initiatives, and teacher development programmes.

Affordable, Quality Healthcare

Improve access to affordable and quality healthcare, with emphasis on maternal and child health, preventive medicine, and community health outreach.

Economic Empowerment

Empower women, youth and vulnerable populations through vocational training, entrepreneurship development, and financial literacy.

Public Awareness

Raise public awareness on the interconnection between health, education, and sustainable development.

Strategic Partnerships

Partner with local and international organisations in implementing projects that reduce poverty and improve community well-being.

Disease Management & Humanitarian Response

Support communities in managing communicable and non-communicable diseases, and provide humanitarian assistance during health or socio-economic crises.

“We are not building from zero. We are scaling from a foundation that already works.”

Cigari Healthcare and Empowerment Foundation

Partner With Cigari

See how this ecosystem translates into programmes.

From clinical outreach to vocational training, every pillar draws on infrastructure that already exists. Explore the work — or start a conversation with our team.

Explore our programmes Contact the Foundation