The 16th Emir of Kano, Kano State, Nigeria, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has achieved a significant academic milestone by completing a doctorate in Islamic Law at the University of London, United Kingdom. A heartwarming video has surfaced, showing Sanusi becoming emotional after learning that his thesis was approved without any corrections.
The 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 Sanusi’s deep engagement with Islamic legal studies.
Sanusi began his PhD program after being deposed by the then-governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, in 2020. Following his dethronement, he relocated to the UK to focus on his studies. About five months later, he was granted a visiting fellowship at the African Studies Centre of the University of Oxford.
In 2019, the former Emir was awarded an honorary doctorate in finance by the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Sanusi also holds a second bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies and Fiqh from the Africa International University in Khartoum, Sudan, which he earned in 1997. His academic journey began with a degree in Economics in 1981.
Sanusi is recognized as one of the most educated Nigerians to have ever held a monarchical position in the country. His commitment to education and reform continues to shape his legacy, both in Nigeria and internationally.
