Aisha Ismail spent much of her career working to improve the lives of women and children in Nigeria and beyond. Her involvement in social development which began in the late 1970s led to her appointment as the first female commissioner in the Kano State Executive Council in the 1980s. In 1992, she became the first director-general of the National Commission for Women (NCW), where she shaped policies on women's rights and development.

Appointed Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Youth Development in 1999, she played a role in the passage of the 2003 Child Rights Act, reinforcing protections for children. Recognised with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), she continued her involvement in governance as a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, maintaining her focus on women's participation in policy and decision-making.