The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has taken many by surprise after returning to the classroom, declaring that his greatest happiness comes from learning and teaching.
Speaking with journalists on Friday after attending lectures at Northwest University, Kano, Sanusi said education remains a lifelong journey for him. The monarch was recently admitted to study Common and Sharia Law at the institution.
The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed that the programme marks his third bachelor’s degree, recalling his earlier days as an undergraduate.
“The first time I was at level 200 was in 1978, and the second time was in 1992. So, this is actually my third bachelor’s degree I’m going for,” he said.
Despite already holding a PhD, Sanusi explained that studying Law fulfils a long-standing personal ambition, adding that it is not unusual for people to pursue the course later in life.
“I am at my happiest in the classroom either studying or teaching because it is a process of learning.
“Law is a subject many people go to after retirement; People like General Obasanjo, Alex Ekwueme, Nasir el-Rufai, Osita Chidoka. So this is not strange at all. It is a subject that we all need to live with.
“The law is all over us. It is the law that holds society together,” he said.
The emir stressed that legal knowledge is essential to everyday life, noting that law shapes governance, social order, and civic responsibility.
He also underscored the value of education in nation-building, insisting that learning produces better and more responsible citizens.
“The more education you have, the better citizen you become,” Sanusi said, revealing that he had already picked up new insights after just a few days in class.
In a light-hearted remark, the monarch joked that studying Law might empower him to confront his critics more effectively.
“Maybe if I understand the law, I can give my traducers some trouble — maybe I’ll sue them,” he said.
Sanusi thanked the university’s management for the opportunity and praised lecturers for their dedication, urging society to show greater appreciation for educators.
His return to the classroom has sparked widespread interest, with photos and videos of the emir sitting in lectures alongside younger students trending across social media platforms.
