What a Top Traditional Ruler Said About Dangote and Rabiu Is Stirring Debate

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The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has pushed back against recent comments made by Vice President Kashim Shettima, maintaining that Kano—not Lagos—laid the entrepreneurial foundation for Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and billionaire businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu.

Sanusi stated this while speaking to members of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), where he highlighted Kano’s historic status as a centre of commerce and business excellence.

The monarch stressed that both Dangote and Rabiu were products of Kano’s established trading culture before taking their businesses to other parts of the country and the world.

“These businessmen went to Lagos to expand their businesses and learn from the commercial environment there, not to learn how to do business from the beginning,” Sanusi said.

He explained that Kano has, over the years, produced numerous successful entrepreneurs and merchants, adding that the state’s rich commercial heritage contributed significantly to the rise of some of Africa’s leading business figures.

The Emir’s remarks are believed to be a direct reaction to comments made by Vice President Shettima at the Invest Lagos Summit 3.0 held on Monday.

During the event, Shettima commended Lagos State for its economic growth and leadership, asserting that the state played a key role in producing Africa’s wealthiest individuals.

“Lagos produced Africa’s richest man, not Kano. Aliko Dangote is a Lagos boy. Likewise, it was not Kano that produced Africa’s second-richest man, Abdul Samad Rabiu,” Shettima said.

The Vice President made the statement while emphasizing Lagos State’s impact on Nigeria’s economy, particularly in encouraging private-sector investment, business growth, and wealth generation.

Sanusi’s response has reignited conversations about the roles played by Kano and Lagos in the emergence of some of Nigeria’s most successful entrepreneurs, further fueling discussions about the nation’s commercial legacy and economic identity.

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