19 Facts About Zaynab Alkali

Zaynab Alkali was born into the Tura-Mazila family of Borno and Adamawa States.

Zaynab Alkali graduated from Bayero University Kano with a BA in 1973 and then obtained a doctorate in African Studies in the same university and became the principal of Shekara Girls' Boarding School.

Zaynab Alkali went on to be a lecturer in English at two universities in Nigeria.

Zaynab Alkali married the former vice-chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Mohammed Nur Alkali, and they had six children.

Zaynab Alkali rose to be a dean in the faculty of arts at Nasarawa State University in Keffi, where she taught creative writing.

Zaynab Alkali is regarded as the first woman novelist from Northern Nigeria.

Zaynab Alkali worked in the University of Maiduguri as a senior lecturer in the English department for twenty years.

The Descendants was published by Spectrum Lagos 2007 and followed by The Initiates in 2007, and Invisible Borders 2016, Zaynab Alkali's books have been translated into many languages such as German, French, Arabic and Spanish.

Zaynab Alkali took up an appointment at the University of Maiduguri which she held for twenty-two years before joining the Civil Service as a deputy director at NPHCDA, Abuja in 2000.

Between 2005 and 2009 Zaynab Alkali served as deputy vice chancellor, briefly acting as a vice chancellor in 2006.

Zaynab Alkali was awarded the title of Icon of Hope by President Olusegun Obasanjo's government.

Zaynab Alkali received the Nigerian Woman of Distinction Award on the occasion of Nigeria's Golden Jubilee, presented byPresident Goodluck Jonathan.

Zaynab Alkali was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the Nigeria Literary Canon by Nasir El-Rufai at the Kaduna Book and Arts Festival on September 5,2018.

Zaynab Alkali serves as the board chairman of; Zayba Educational Resources Development, Keffi, Capital Science Academy, Kuje-Abuja and the National Library of Nigeria Abuja.

Zaynab Alkali serves as vice chairman, Planning and Implementation Committee of Midlands University.

Ever the Educator, Zaynab Alkali is the proprietress of Zyba Model Nursery and Primary School, Keffi.

Zaynab Alkali is a shining example of what can be achieved with dedication and hard work.

Zaynab Alkali has not only honed her talent, she continues to give the world excellent works that capture the complexities of ordinary human beings.

Zaynab Alkali was married to the late Professor Nur Alkali; they had six children and several grandchildren.