Why I returned to school to study law — Emir Sanusi

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, said he enrolled for a law degree at Northwest University, Kano, to fulfill a lifelong ambition, describing law as key to a just and stable society.

Speaking after attending lectures at the university on Thursday, the Emir said that despite holding advanced degrees, including a PhD, he had always desired to study law.

The programme marks his third bachelor’s degree, following a degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and other academic qualifications.

“I have always said that the classroom is my default. I am happiest when I am studying or teaching. For me, this is a great opportunity to do a subject I have always wanted to do. Law is all around us; it governs our families, contracts, property, succession and even how we drive on the road. It is the safeguard for a decent and stable society,” he said.

The Emir added, “It helps to understand the law, but beyond that, it is a field that holds society together. The day you don’t have law and order, the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

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Speaking on his choice of university, Sanusi said the institution offered him admission and, being owned by Kano State, deserved his support. 

“We tend to underestimate our own teachers, but they have attained the same levels of education as those abroad. If you are going to study law, you might as well study it in Nigeria. 

What is the point of studying British law when you are not going to live there?” he asked.

He described his schedule as a balance between his duties as Emir and his studies.

“I am a student in the morning and an Emir in the afternoon. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are for classes, while Mondays and Fridays I sit at normal hours. When I cannot attend physically, I join virtually.

“The university has been flexible enough to accommodate my schedule,” he said

Reflecting on his classroom experience, the Emir stated that the seats are more comfortable and expressed admiration at the students’ determination. 

“I sat on wooden benches in the 1970s. Today, the seats are more comfortable, and I see young men and women determined to study. Law has always been a conservative discipline, and I have enjoyed sitting with them,” he said.

“Nobody is too young or too old to go to school. The more education you have, the better a citizen you become.

I have been here for just three days and I have learnt a lot. We should all seek knowledge because that is what improves us as individuals and as citizens,” he said.”

He further emphasised the importance of education for societal development, calling on the government to invest more in education. 

“Our human capital is our greatest resource. Producing high-quality lawyers and professionals who will shape the future of our institutions is extremely important. For me, this is a personal quest, but also a message to society that education must be a priority,” he said.