El-Rufai’s Wives are holding down the fort in his absence
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, by public admittance revealed that he is married to four women. With about 11 children in total. The political patriarch is currently caught up in legal battles with the EFCC — who detained him from February and the ICPC — who are investigating him separately. Regardless of this, his wives and entire family continue to battle for his release with the strength of their individual notoriety. Make no mistake, these women are powerful!
Meet the wives:
Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, the First Wife
They met in 1976 at the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and got married in 1985. She has 3 masters degrees from across the world and is a published novelist, philanthropist and speaker. She has held multiple public sector positions; first as a lecturer in Kaduna Polytechnic, then as a staff at the National Electric Power Authority. She also served as First Lady of Kaduna State from 2015–2023. She founded Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation (YELF) — a non-profit literary NGO established 2013 to honour her late daughter, focused on creative writing for youth and women’s literacy in Kaduna State
Asia Ahmad, the Second Wife
Asia Ahmad is El-Rufai’s second wife. She is a trained lawyer by profession. Details on her public profile and activities are less widely documented, consistent with her more private life.
Aisha Ummi Garba El-Rufai, the Third Wife
The pair were married in 2010. Born in Kano to parents from Jigawa State, she is an Interior decorator by profession. She graduated from the University of Abuja with a BSc in Political Science in 2003. Worked at a Pension Fund Administrator (ARM Pension) rising to Manager of Customer Relations, then moved to the federal government’s Border Communities Development Agency. She and El-Rufai have four children together.
Aichatou Assabe Djibril El-Rufai, the Fourth Wife
The most recently married of El-Rufai’s four wives, Aichatou Assabe Djibril was married in 2020 but only publicly introduced in 2025. She and El-Rufai have a son together, Jibril Arif El-Rufai. Very little is in the public domain about her professional background or activities, and she maintains the most private profile of the four wives.
Will 2026 be the year Ochacho Homes completes its first project in Abuja?
There has been wide public speculation that Ochacho Homes, owned by King Mohamed Usman Adah, though present in numerous locations across the city of Abuja are often incomplete. But did you know about the non-compliance issues from the past couple of years.
The latest debacle was with the FCCPC. The FCCPC’s Deputy Director, Marvin Nadah says Ochacho Homes and other real estate companies were ordered to hand over fully-paid housing units to customers. In another case, they were to issue refunds —both directives were ignored. Just this past week, the company’s office in Abuja was sealed under Section 150(4) of the FCCPA 2018 and will remain shut until they fully comply.
NESREA was disappointed. Ochacho Real Homes was one of 21 facilities sealed by NESREA (National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency) for building without proper Environmental Impact Assessments. According to the NESREA Director, some structures were built on floodplains and other environmentally unsafe locations.
But the earliest known ilk came in 2023 in the form of a customer complaint. According to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Ifeanyichukwu Magboh purchased two semi-detached duplexes in Ochahco’s Idu Gwari Estate for N55M each. Ochacho failed to build, and refused to refund him for 2 years despite legal intervention. This is a pattern consistent with the FCCPC’s latest enforcement action.
Top 5 Most Stylish Female Ministers in Nigeria right now!
1 – Hannatu Musawa: As the minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa dresses like someone who has read the job description carefully. She embodies diplomacy in fabric form. Expect richly patterned traditional attire, flowing abayas in deep, saturated colours, complemented by matching shawls and headties. What makes her stand out is her context-sensitivity. At the Ojude Oba festival, she showed up in traditional Ijebu attire, and at the Ofala festival, she wore the Isi Agu in fabric sewn to her custom style. She’s a champion for Nigerian designers on and off the stage.
2 – Doris Uzoka-Anite: The Honorable Minister of State, Budget and Economic Planning, Doris is the definition of executive chic. Her look is banker-meets-boardroom: tailored power suits, structured blazers in neutral and jewel tones, occasionally layered with quality Nigerian formal wear for official functions. Her wardrobe communicates competence, which, for a woman who pivoted from medicine to finance to politics, seems entirely deliberate.
3 – Nkiruka Onyejeocha: The current Minister of state for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka’s style is unapologetically traditional. As a woman who has represented Abia State in the House for over a decade, she knows exactly where she stands. You can expect bold colour, a statement aso-ebi, and coral beads, bright wrappers, rich George fabric, and head-ties that match or deliberately contrast her outfit. She dresses like a woman of the people.
4 – Jumoke Oduwole: Jumoke is Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. As a photographer who has exhibited in Lagos, The Hague, and Leiden, she clearly has a visual sensibility, and her wardrobe reflects that quiet artistic confidence. Her style is understated and intellectual with clean, well-chosen pieces, earthy and muted tones – signaling quality over statement.
5 – Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim: Nigeria’s first female Minister of State for Police Affairs, Honorable Imaan is regal in the quietest way. Her style revolves around elegance and restraint and this is visible in premium aso-oke, beautifully draped geles, and refined Northern Nigerian silhouettes. Beyond outfits her grooming is always impeccable, reflective of her experience in the beauty industry.
Youngest Public Sector Executives
Nigeria’s public sector is embracing the future in little doses. These young executives are proof that we may have arrived at the tomorrow designated for the ‘leaders of tomorrow’.
Here are 6 young public sector executives in office right now
- Prof. Segun Aina, JAMB Registrar. 39 years (1986): From an NYSC corper at JAMB to a leader Professor Segun has come full circle. He became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University at 39, and spent 15+ years advising federal and state governments on digital transformation and examination reform.
- Bisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC CEO. 41 years (1984): As the first woman to lead Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission, Coker-Odusote has overseen a significant push to scale Nigeria’s national ID infrastructure. Especially now — a time when identity integration has become integral to every Nigerian system.
- Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth. 38 years (April 8, 1988): Olawande has led his ministry to big wins in the span of his career: 14,509 youth trained in digital skills against a target of 10,000, and 97,000+ reached through mentorship and career development programmes against a target of 80,000. He has established 20 vocational training centres nationwide and moved his ministry’s performance rating from the 20s to near 80% on the government’s own delivery scorecard.
- Khalil Suleiman Halilu, NASENI EVC/CEO, 35 years (Oct. 29, 1990): This tech founder turned federal executive is the youngest CEO of a major Nigerian federal agency. Halilu walked into NASENI at 32 and turned a largely dormant research agency into an industrial production force. He launched 44 products, securing $3B+ in partnerships, and getting 36 market-ready products into the Nigerian market within two years.
- Charles Odii, SMEDAN DG, 38 years (May 29, 1988): An entrepreneur, Odili became SMEDAN DG at 35. In two years, he secured over ₦11 billion in financing support for small businesses, facilitated 100,000+ jobs, and negotiated a landmark ₦5 billion single-digit interest rate fund with Sterling Bank for SMEs.
- Mark Okoye, SEDC MD/CEO, 39 years (June 15, 1986): The Pioneer MD of the newly established South-East Development Commission, Okoye made history in 2016 by becoming Nigeria’s youngest state commissioner since the Fourth Republic began, taking the Anambra Budget and Economic Planning portfolio at 27. As Commissioner and later ANSIPPA CEO, he oversaw $1.5 billion in multi-year development plans and managed annual budgets of ~$500 million with an 80% execution rate.
Where to get perfect Amala in Abuja
As a self-proclaimed Amala enthusiast, and part of a newsroom that enjoys a good Amala lunch date, here are the our favourite spots to eat Amala in the City of Abuja.
- Iya Oyo Amala Joint (Matosh Kitchen), Wuye
- Habitat Amala Bukka, Garki and Gwarimpa
- Amala Central, CBD
- Yakoyo, CBD
- Danfo Amala, Kubwa
