Hadiza Isma El-Rufai Explained

Honorific Prefix:Haj
Hadiza Isma El-Rufai
Birth Date:21 June 1960
Birth Place:Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
Nationality:Nigerian
Other Names:Hadiza Isma
Alma Mater:Ahmadu Bello University, Bath Spa University
Occupation:Architect novelist, politician
Years Active:1999 to present
Organization:Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation (YELF)
Known For:Writer, philanthropist
Notable Works:An Abundance of Scorpions
Spouse:Nasir el-Rufai

Hadiza Isma El-Rufai (; born 21 June 1960) is a Nigerian writer (novelist), and wife to the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. She was the founder of Yasmin El-rufai Foundation (YELF), a non-profit literary organization.[1]

Biography

El-Rufai was born Hadiza Isma in Kano, Nigeria, to Mohammed Musa Isma and Amina Iya Isma.[2] Her father was a civil servant.

She has a BSc and MSc in Architecture (1983) and an MBA (1992) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as a Masters in Creative Writing (2012) from Bath Spa University, United Kingdom.[3]

From there, she worked as a lecturer at the Department of Architecture at Kaduna Polytechnic, a few more years at the National Electric Power Authority, before working in private practice.

She also speaks French language fluently.

Family life

In 1985, she married Mallam Nasir El-Rufai whom she met in 1976 at the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.[4] He later became the Minister of the FCT in Nigeria, and the Governor of Kaduna State.[5]

Literary career

In 2017, El-Rufai published An Abundance of Scorpions (Ouida Books),[6] a novel inspired by volunteer work the author did at an orphanage in Abuja, and her desire to write about an orphan.[7] It was presented at the 2017 edition of the Aké Arts and Book Festival.[8]

The work has been described by Helon Habila as "a heartbreaking tale of loss and an uplifting story of a woman's strength and determination".[9] [10]

Philanthropy

Along with her husband, El-Rufai set up Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation (YELF) in 2013 to honour her daughter who died of an epileptic seizure in her flat in London in November 2011.[11] [12] The literary nonprofit was fully launched in 2017[13] [14] with the aims of nurturing creativity in children, "particularly the girl child, between the ages of eight and 19" and young/adult women, providing them "resources with teachers and the books that they need to enhance their literacy."[15] [16]

As First Lady of Kaduna State, she has also used the office for philanthropic purposes to benefit the less privileged, donating drugs to sickle cell patients in Kaduna.[17] [18] [19]

Twitter comment controversy

In April 2020, El-Rufai, had responded on twitter to a comment about her son using language with a threat of sexual violence against a critic during an argument on the social network[20] with "Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. All is fair in love and war." The remarks caused a lot of backlash on social media, including at Brittle Paper, a literary magazine, where an editorial disagreement between the editors about how to present the report led to the departure of the deputy editor.[21] [22] El-Rufai eventually apologised for her comment, saying she had misunderstood the earlier conflict and would "never condone sexual abuse in any shape or form"[23] She later threatened to sue the group that accused her of condoning her son's sexual assault remarks.[24] [25]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-02-11. Hadiza El-Rufai joins league of Northern Nigerian women writers. 2022-02-23. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. en-US.
  2. News: Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation: Promoting literacy, creative writing. November 11, 2017. Blueprint – For Truth and Justice. 7 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Board Member-HADIZA ISMA EL-RUFAI Safari Books. safaribooks.com.ng. 7 January 2018. October 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171014094527/http://safaribooks.com.ng/home/board-member-hadiza-isma-el-rufai/. dead.
  4. News: I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai. Punch Newspapers. 7 January 2018.
  5. Web site: 2019-03-11. BREAKING: El-Rufai wins Kaduna governorship election. 2020-11-07. en-GB.
  6. News: Hadiza El-Rufai to present new book at Ake Festival. Bivan. Nathaniel. November 16, 2017. Daily Trust.
  7. Web site: How orphans triggered my latest novel – Hadiza El-Rufai (DailyTrust) – Sabi News. sabinews.com. 7 January 2018.
  8. Web site: Kaduna Gov's Wife, Hadiza El-Rufai urges Nigerians to adopt orphans – The Elites Nigeria. theelitesng.com. November 17, 2017. 7 January 2018.
  9. News: Hadiza Isma El-Rufai. Ouida Books. 7 January 2018. January 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094841/http://ouidabooks.com/authors/hadiza-isma-el-rufai/. dead.
  10. News: First Lady of Kaduna, set to release her Debut Novel – An Abundance of Scorpions – The Afro Reader. October 18, 2017. The Afro Reader. 7 January 2018.
  11. News: SERENDIPITY – Creative Writing, Yasmin and I (An Essay) by Hadiza Isma El-Rufai. April 27, 2013. Su'eddie in Life n' Literature. 7 January 2018.
  12. News: I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai. Punch Newspapers. 7 January 2018.
  13. News: Tears As el-Rufai, Aisha Buhari, Others Launch Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation. Aza. Msue. July 23, 2017. Leadership Newspaper.
  14. News: Politics – El-Rufai Breaks Down in Tears Over Late Daughter. Nigerian Bulletin – Nigeria News Updates. 7 January 2018.
  15. News: I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai. Punch Newspapers. 7 January 2018.
  16. News: Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation: Promoting literacy, creative writing. November 11, 2017. Blueprint – For Truth and Justice. 7 January 2018.
  17. News: Nigeria: Mrs. El-Rufai Donates Drugs to Sickle Cell Patients in Kaduna state ». June 7, 2017. 7 January 2018.
  18. Web site: Mrs El-Rufai donates drugs to sickle cell centre. peoplesdailyng.com. 7 January 2018.
  19. Web site: Mrs. El-Rufai Donates Drugs to Sickle Cell Patients – Nigeria News by PRESS. press.com.ng. 7 January 2018. March 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190325085155/http://press.com.ng/news/mrs-el-rufai-donates-drugs-to-sickle-cell-patients/. dead.
  20. Web site: Bello El-Rufai, Sexual Abuse Tweets And Scapegoating Of The Woman. 2020-04-16. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. en-US. 2020-05-18. May 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200509042628/https://guardian.ng/life/bello-el-rufai-sexual-abuse-tweets-and-scapegoating-of-the-woman/. dead.
  21. Web site: Controversies trail departure of Brittle Paper's deputy editor after Hadiza El-Rufai criticism. 2020-04-16. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. en-US. 2020-05-18. June 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200601021016/https://guardian.ng/news/controversies-trail-departure-of-brittle-papers-deputy-editor-after-hadiza-el-rufai-criticism/. dead.
  22. Web site: Outrage As Brittle Paper Censors, Deletes Deputy Editor's Story On Governor El-Rufai Son’s Threat To ‘Rape’ Twitter User's Mother. 2020-04-16. Sahara Reporters. 2020-05-18. May 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200518120708/http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/16/outrage-brittle-paper-censors-deletes-deputy-editors-story-governor-el-rufai-son%E2%80%99s-threat. dead.
  23. Web site: Hadiza El-Rufai Apologises, Denounces Son's Pro-Rape Tweet. MarketWatch. en-US. 2020-05-18.
  24. Web site: Hadiza el-Rufai threatens to sue group that accused her of endorsing son’s sexual assault comment. 2020-04-21. TheCable. en-US. 2020-05-18.
  25. Web site: Gang rape comment: Mrs. El-Rufai threatens legal action against feminist group. Sadiq. Lami. State. Kaduna. 2020-04-23. Daily Trust. en-GB. 2020-05-18. May 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200501204423/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/gang-rape-comment-mrs-el-rufai-threatens-legal-action-against-feminist-group.html. dead.

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