The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Thursday reaffirmed Kano’s historic position as Nigeria’s foremost commercial hub. He insisted that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and billionaire industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu are products of the ancient city, countering recent public assertions suggesting their corporate genesis belongs to Lagos.
Emir Sanusi made these remarks in Kano whilst speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), where he served as the special guest of honour.
The monarch’s comments follow recent public debate sparked by remarks attributed to Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Vice President reportedly highlighted Lagos as the city that “produced” business magnates such as Dangote and Rabiu whilst extolling the state’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic development.
Historical entrepreneurial roots versus modern corporate headquarters
The Emir argued that although both businessmen built expansive corporate empires with significant operational footprints in Lagos, their roots, upbringing, and foundational entrepreneurial mindsets are firmly embedded in Kano. He described the northern metropolis as boasting over a thousand years of uninterrupted commercial history.
