The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has earned a doctorate in Islamic Law from the University of London, United Kingdom. This significant achievement was marked by an emotional moment as the Emir successfully defended his thesis, which was approved without any corrections.
Sanusi’s thesis, titled “Codification of Islamic Family Law as an Instrument of Social Reform: A Case Study of the Emirate of Kano and Comparison with the Kingdom of Morocco,” reflects his deep engagement with Islamic law and social reform. The journey toward this PhD began in 2020, shortly after his removal from the throne by former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Following his ouster, Sanusi relocated to the UK to focus fully on his academic pursuits.
The Emir’s academic journey has been distinguished. After his dethronement, he was granted a visiting fellowship at the African Studies Centre of the University of Oxford and previously received an honorary doctorate in finance from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in 2019. His academic background includes a degree in Economics from 1981 and a second bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies and fiqh from Africa International University in Khartoum, Sudan, in 1997.
Sanusi, also a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is recognized as one of the most educated Nigerians to have ever held a traditional leadership position in the country.