Hadiza Isma El-Rufai was born on the 21st of June 1960, in Kano city, Nigeria, where she attended both primary and secondary school. She holds BSc (Architecture), MSc (Architecture) and MBA degrees from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She also has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, Bath, UK.
Hadiza’s debut novel, An Abundance of Scorpions, was published in November 2017 by Ouida Books.
She is the founder of Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation, a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization duly incorporated with Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission. The Foundation is committed to supporting and encouraging creativity in children and enhancing the literacy skills of women in Northern Nigeria.
A lover of nature, Hadiza loves spending time outdoors, power walking and playing golf. She lives in Abuja, Nigeria with her husband and children.