Headlines
What Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II did for Kano – Kurawa
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano who was dethroned after a six-year reign assumed office on June 08, 2014.
In this exclusive interview with Kano Focus, Ibrahim Ado Kurawa, historian and close associate of the deposed Emir highlights some of the legacies of Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Emir’s Role
Before talking about the legacies of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II we need to understand the duties of an emir first.
An emir does not legislate, execute or adjudicate as was the case in the past.
In 1967, the military government removed their judicial powers and in 1976 local government administration was taken away from Emirs.
Therefore an emir’s duties became limited to what he is assigned to do by the government and the provision of leadership for his people.
That was how Emir Alhaji Ado Bayero lived from 1976 until his death.
By the time Muhammadu Sanusi II assumed the throne of Kano Emirate his only function was to provide leadership for his subjects.
Leadership Style
He was asked to provide leadership and everyone has his style.
Some people would keep mute when they see wrongdoing while others will speak up.
Why don’t people like to be corrected? Let them do the right thing and see if he would still criticize them.
Let his detractors come out and refute his criticisms.
Some people fail to understand that there are individual differences in leadership style.
So every Emir has a choice on whether to speak or keep silent.
Uniting the Royal Family
The first thing he did was to unite his subjects especially the royal family.
Emir Sanusi II gave royal titles to all branches of the ruling Dabo family.
These included the descendants of Emir Muhammadu Inuwa and Emir Alu Babba.
The last descendant of Emir Alu to hold a traditional title, Ahmadu Gwadabe – who was appointed Danmaje by Emir Abdullahi Bayero – died in 1967 and they were not given another title since then until the reign of Muhammadu Sanusi II.
As for Emir Muhammadu Inuwa, his descendants did not hold any title even the headship of a ward for 51 years after his death until Muhammadu Sanusi II turbaned one of them as a District Head.
He also appointed Aminu Sadik from the Dan Lawan Ayuba branch of the Abdullahi Maje Karofi royal house as the Zanna of Kano.
From the scions of Emir Sanusi I, he appointed Dan Galadima, Bunu, and Dan Buran.
No previous Emir has done this much to unite the family of Ibrahim Dabo.
Renovating Gidan Rumfa
The Kano royal palace is known as Gidan Rumfa after Emir Muhammadu Rumfa who built it about 500 years ago.
It has never been renovated as it was done during the reign of Muhammadu Sanusi II.
He modernized every nook and cranny of the palace, which is a no mean achievement.
Family Law Bill
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi has done what no Emir has done in the history of Kano by drafting a bill on Islamic Family law.
He gathered a large number of Islamic scholars who spent three years poring over books on Islamic Shari’a to draft the act for a law to regulate the Islamic family in Kano state.
It covers aspects such as marriage, family support, childcare, and divorce.
Most Educated Emir
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi was the most educated emir in the history of Kano in both Islamic and formal education.
That was why he tackled controversial issues to help in resolving them using his vast knowledge.
He also had a wealth of experience in public service culminating in his appointment as Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.
He used his knowledge and experience to gain access to international organizations and associations.
Economic Development
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II used his connections to spur the economic development of Kano state.
The African Development Bank engaged in an Industrial Diagnostics of Kano and developed an economic development blueprint for the state.
This is usually reserved for countries.
He brought Chinese investors to set up a $300million textile industry in Kano.
He brought another company “Baban Kowa”, which provides farmers with seeds and inputs as well as buy the produce after harvest.
He also brought Black Rhinos who will set-up a solar power plant worth $100million in Kano.
He had already arranged an agreement with the Federal Government and the contract has been signed.
Defender of the people
These show that his main interest in being a monarch went beyond the paraphernalia of office such algaita, kakaki, and tambari.
He had a plan for the development of his people.
That is why he was always vocal in any matter concerning Kano in particular and Nigeria in general.
He was instrumental in protecting the interests of his fellow Fulani when they were being stereotyped as aggressors in the frequent clashes between farmers and animal herders.
That is why Fulani associations love him very much.
Man of Peace
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II deserves commendation concerning the peaceful manner he handled his dethronement.
He averted riots in Kano by instructing his followers to leave everything to Allah and accept his successor.
Many thought he would resist or seek legal redress but he forgave and ask the people to obey whoever his successor might be.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government says it has executed 1,508 development projects worth more than N928 billion across the state’s 44 local government areas since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf assumed office, with about 80 per cent of constituency projects awarded between 2023 and 2025 already completed.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Iro Ma’aji Sumaila, disclosed this during an international press briefing on the administration’s infrastructure development programme.
According to Comrade Sumaila, the projects cover critical sectors including roads, urban renewal, education, healthcare, security and other social infrastructure.
He said 799 of the projects have been completed, while 709 are at various stages of execution. He added that the state is also implementing 619 constituency projects through members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The commissioner noted that about 80 per cent of the constituency projects have been completed. However, he said some projects remain unfinished because of rising construction costs caused by inflation.
He said the government has submitted a request to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for an upward review of contract sums to enable contractors complete the affected projects.
Breakdown of projects
Comrade Sumaila said the administration spent over N169 billion on urban renewal projects, including road rehabilitation, drainage construction and other metropolitan infrastructure.
He said another N118 billion was committed to constructing five-kilometre roads in 38 local government areas to improve connectivity across the state.
According to him, the government also awarded contracts worth over N6.8 billion for the construction of Kano State Neighbourhood Watch security divisions in 36 local government areas.
He added that rural infrastructure projects covering education, healthcare and other social interventions across the 44 local government areas account for contracts valued at more than N397 billion, while other ongoing projects have a combined value of about N255 billion.
Commitment to transparency
The commissioner said the Ministry of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation would continue to ensure compliance with due process and technical standards in the execution of government projects.
He said the ministry’s mandate includes monitoring projects to ensure value for money and prudent utilisation of public resources.
According to him, the administration’s investments in infrastructure are intended to improve mobility, strengthen security, expand access to education and healthcare, improve water supply and stimulate economic growth across the state.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State has emerged as the highest-ranked sub-national government in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for education spending, according to the latest Sub-National Education Spending Index developed by the University of Paris.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ranking places Kano State first among 209 first-level sub-national governments across 15 ECOWAS member countries, underscoring the state’s growing reputation for prioritising investment in education.
According to the published index, Kano topped the rankings with an overall S-WAESI score of 87.21, outperforming other leading regions, including Dakar and Saint-Louis in Senegal. Lagos State was the second Nigerian state on the list, ranking 16th overall.
The assessment evaluated states and regions using the S-WAESI (Sub-National Weighted Aggregate Education Spending Index) methodology, which measures government commitment to education through indicators such as actual education expenditure, spending per student, budget execution, education priority, transparency and evidence-based reporting.
The methodology assigns 35 points to actual education spending, 25 points to spending per student, 20 points to budget execution, 10 points to education priority and 10 points to transparency.
The report indicated that Kano excelled largely due to its strong actual education spending and budget execution, making it the best-performing sub-national government in the region.
The ranking covered states, regions, districts and municipalities across Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.
Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) said the recognition reflects Kano State Government’s sustained investment in expanding access to education, improving school infrastructure and strengthening educational planning and budget implementation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the achievement is expected to further boost the state’s profile as a leader in education reform within West Africa and provide additional momentum for ongoing efforts to improve learning outcomes across the state.
The latest ranking comes amid renewed attention on education financing across ECOWAS, with experts increasingly emphasising transparent budgeting, efficient resource utilisation and sustained public investment as critical drivers of quality education.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the World Bank-supported HOPE Governance Programme after qualifying for a total of $3.5 million in performance-based incentives for implementing key governance, education and healthcare reforms.
KANO FOCUS reports that the World Bank, through the HOPE Governance Programme domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, approved $27 million in incentives for states that successfully met the Year Zero Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs).
The National Coordinator of the HOPE Governance Programme, Assad Hassan, announced the incentives on Tuesday in Abuja during a retreat attended by commissioners, permanent secretaries and directors of budget and planning from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
A statement issued by the programme’s Communications Officer, Joe Mutah, said the incentives were based on the recommendations of the Interim Independent Verification Agent, which assessed states’ performance against agreed reform indicators.
Kano ranked among the highest-performing states, qualifying for incentives under three separate reform indicators.
The state will receive $1.5 million under Disbursement-Linked Result (DLR) 2.1 for adopting comprehensive guidelines for the preparation and submission of consolidated work plans for the state basic education budget.
It also qualified for another $1.5 million under DLR 2.2, which recognises states that adopted comprehensive guidelines for consolidated work plans for state primary healthcare budgets.
In addition, Kano secured $500,000 under DLR 2.3 for adopting harmonised budget guidelines and a unified chart of accounts for local governments.
Altogether, the state is expected to receive $3.5 million, making it one of the top-performing states under the programme.
Only five states—Bayelsa, Borno, Kano, Kebbi and Yobe—qualified for both the education and healthcare planning incentives, earning $3 million each from the two indicators alone.
Kano further distinguished itself by qualifying under the local government budgeting reform indicator, increasing its total allocation to $3.5 million.
The state also featured among 15 states that met the requirements under DLR 4.1, which rewards states for publishing their 2025 Citizens Budget for basic education and primary healthcare by February 28, 2025. Each qualifying state under this indicator will receive $500,000.
Other states that qualified under DLR 4.1 are Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau and Yobe.
According to the programme, the performance-based incentives are designed to encourage states to strengthen governance systems, improve budget transparency and enhance planning in the education and primary healthcare sectors.
KANO FOCUS reports that the HOPE Governance Programme is a World Bank-supported initiative implemented through the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to promote improved public financial management and better service delivery across Nigeria’s states.
Kano says it executed 1,508 projects worth N928 billion in three years
World Cup: Imam warns Muslims against allowing football to distract from worship
Kano ranks best in ECOWAS on education spending index
Kano emerges top beneficiary as World Bank rewards states with $27m for reforms
NCC invites stakeholders to public consultation on zero-rated access to educational platforms
Kano recruits over 16,000 teachers, begins 10-year education reform plan
Kano delegation participates in international labour conference in Geneva
UBEC, UNICEF train education stakeholders on SBMCs in Northern Nigeria
Kano ranks best in ECOWAS on education spending index
