[2] She rose to be a dean in the faculty of arts at Nasarawa State University in Keffi, where she taught creative writing.
This coming-of-age novel depicts the physical and spiritual journey of a Nigerian woman who learns to survive, in the face of harsh traditions.
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.
She received the Nigerian Woman of Distinction Award ( 29 September 2010) on the occasion of Nigeria's Golden Jubilee, presented byPresident Goodluck Jonathan.
Zaynab Alkali serves as the board chairman of; Zayba Educational Resources Development, Keffi, Capital Science Academy, Kuje-Abuja and the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) Abuja.
Zaynab Alkali has authored the following books, The Stillborn, The Virtuous Woman, Cobwebs & Others, The Descendants, The Initiates and the most recently Invisible Borders,.
She has not only honed her talent, she continues to give the world excellent works that capture the complexities of ordinary human beings.