Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is the current Emir of Kano and a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Although his position as the Emir has been controversial due to the circumstances and OldNaijaHistory hopes to cover it all, including Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Biography, Career Journey, Family and many more.
Early Life and Background
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, also known as Muhammad Sanusi II was born on the 31st of July, 1961 in Kano, Nothern Nigeria. Sanusi hails from the ruling class Fulani family of the Sullubawa clan.
His father, Aminu Sanusi, was a career diplomat who served as the Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, China, and Canada.
Sanusi grew up in the palace of his great-uncle, Ado Bayero, who reigned as the Emir of Kano for over five decades.
Education and Career
Sanusi received both religious and secular education during his youth.
He had his primary education at St Annes Kaduna, where he proceeded to Kings College Lagos for his secondary school education.
In 1981, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi bagged a BSc in Economics degree from Ahmadu Bello University, where he received a Master’s degree too in 1983 before briefly lecturing.
Upon resignation from lecturing, Muhammad Sanusi II proceeded to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan where he read Islamic studies at the International University of Africa.
This boosted his fluency in Arabic, Qur’an, law (fiqh) and philosophy (falsafa), amongst others. He read the works of prominent Western thinkers and Islamic authorities and was also exposed to the four Sunni madhhabs of Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali.
Before ascending to the throne, he was an Islamic intellectual, academic, political economist, and banker.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, implementing significant banking reforms.
However, his tenure was marked by controversy when he alleged that $20 billion was missing from government coffers.
Emir of Kano
Sanusi succeeded his great-uncle, Ado Bayero, as the 14th Emir of Kano on June 8, 2014, assuming the regnal name Muhammadu Sanusi II.
During his reign, he advocated for cultural reform in Northern Nigeria.
In 2020, he was deposed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and replaced by his cousin, Aminu Ado Bayero.
However, on May 23, 2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reinstated him to the throne.
Spiritual and Traditional Authority
Sanusi holds the religious title of Khalifa Sanusi II and is the spiritual leader of the Tijanniyah Sufi order in Nigeria.
As the Khalifa, he wields politico-spiritual authority over the second-largest Sufi order, with over 50 million adherents in West Africa.
Net Worth
His net worth is estimated at around $80 million, influenced by his upbringing and high-paying roles as a banker and economist.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi remains a prominent figure, blending tradition, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits in his impactful journey.
