Hadiza Isma El-Rufai
Haj Hadiza Isma El-Rufai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 June 1960 Kano, Kano State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Hadiza Isma |
| Alma mater | Ahmadu Bello University, Bath Spa University |
| Occupation(s) | Architect novelist, politician |
| Years active | 1999 to present |
| Organization | Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation (YELF) |
| Known for | Writer, philanthropist |
| Notable work | 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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Hadiza El-Rufai joins league of Northern Nigerian women writers". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. February 11, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ "Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation: Promoting literacy, creative writing". Blueprint – For Truth and Justice. November 11, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Board Member-HADIZA ISMA EL-RUFAI | Safari Books". safaribooks.com.ng. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "BREAKING: El-Rufai wins Kaduna governorship election". March 11, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ Bivan, Nathaniel (November 16, 2017). "Hadiza El-Rufai to present new book at Ake Festival". Daily Trust.
- ^ "How orphans triggered my latest novel – Hadiza El-Rufai (DailyTrust) – Sabi News". sabinews.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Kaduna Gov's Wife, Hadiza El-Rufai urges Nigerians to adopt orphans – The Elites Nigeria". theelitesng.com. November 17, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Hadiza Isma El-Rufai". Ouida Books. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "First Lady of Kaduna, set to release her Debut Novel – An Abundance of Scorpions – The Afro Reader". The Afro Reader. October 18, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "SERENDIPITY – Creative Writing, Yasmin and I (An Essay) by Hadiza Isma El-Rufai". Su'eddie in Life n' Literature. April 27, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ Aza, Msue (July 23, 2017). "Tears As el-Rufai, Aisha Buhari, Others Launch Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation". Leadership Newspaper.
- ^ "Politics – El-Rufai Breaks Down in Tears Over Late Daughter". Nigerian Bulletin – Nigeria News Updates. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation: Promoting literacy, creative writing". Blueprint – For Truth and Justice. November 11, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Nigeria: Mrs. El-Rufai Donates Drugs to Sickle Cell Patients in Kaduna state »". June 7, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Mrs El-Rufai donates drugs to sickle cell centre". peoplesdailyng.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Mrs. El-Rufai Donates Drugs to Sickle Cell Patients – Nigeria News by PRESS". press.com.ng. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Bello El-Rufai, Sexual Abuse Tweets And Scapegoating Of The Woman". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. April 16, 2020. Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Controversies trail departure of Brittle Paper's deputy editor after Hadiza El-Rufai criticism". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. April 16, 2020. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Outrage As Brittle Paper Censors, Deletes Deputy Editor's Story On Governor El-Rufai Son's Threat To 'Rape' Twitter User's Mother". Sahara Reporters. April 16, 2020. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Hadiza El-Rufai Apologises, Denounces Son's Pro-Rape Tweet". MarketWatch. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Hadiza el-Rufai threatens to sue group that accused her of endorsing son's sexual assault comment". TheCable. April 21, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Sadiq, Lami; State, Kaduna (April 23, 2020). "Gang rape comment: Mrs. El-Rufai threatens legal action against feminist group". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.