Hadiza Isma El-Rufai
Haj Hadiza Isma El-Rufai | |
|---|---|
Nasir el-Rufai |
Hadiza Isma El-Rufai (
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
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
References
- ^ "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Retrieved May 18, 2020.