From CBN to The Emirate: Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Picked as Emir of Kano

    The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has emerged as the new Emir of Kano after the throne became vacant on Friday following the monarch’s death. The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabiu Bichi, announced the name of the new Emir on Sunday. The former monarch, Alhaji Ado Bayero, died on Friday and was buried the same day in accordance with Islamic rights with the Kano Emirate flag flown at half-mast. Those in attendance during the prayers include the Vice President, Mr. Namadi Sambo, former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno and his Jigawa State counterpart, Sule Lamido. Also in attendance was the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. However, the Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was absent during the burial. Until his death, Ado Bayero was the Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. He was the 13^th Emir of Kano from the Fulani dynasty and 56^th ruler of Kano Emirate from the late Abdullahi Bayero House. Ado Bayero is survived by four wives and about 62 children. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was born in Kano Northern Nigeria, on July 31, 1961. He obtained degrees in Economics and Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the International University of Africa, Khartoum. After teaching Economics for two years at the Ahmadu Bello University, he started a banking career in 1985 with Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers) and later worked with the United Bank for Africa Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc. His banking career spanned various fields including issuing house activity, financial advisory services and credit marketing. However, it was in the field of Risk Management that he earned his professional reputation, having distinguished himself as the Chief Risk Officer in the two largest banks in the Country, UBA Plc and FBN Plc. He rose to the position of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of First Bank Plc, the largest bank in the country in January, 2009 and was appointed the 10th Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in June, 2009. He was however suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014 after he was accused of “financial recklessness”.