Igbo Man Founded Kwankwaso Town, Emir Sanusi Drops Bombshell

DDM News

A revelation made by the former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has stirred fresh conversations about the long-standing socio-economic ties between the Igbo community and the people of Northern Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that in a 2017 social media post, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi recounted a little-known historical fact about the origins of the now-famous town of Kwankwaso in Kano State.

According to the former Central Bank Governor and respected Islamic scholar, Kwankwaso town was not originally named by the locals of Kano, but instead evolved from the name of an Igbo businessman’s company, Okonkwo & Sons, established as far back as 1927.

Sanusi revealed that the town now known as Kwankwaso was initially home to Chief Felix Okonkwo, an Igbo trader from Eastern Nigeria who had moved to Kano in the early 20th century to trade groundnuts.

Chief Okonkwo set up his thriving groundnut business near the Kano railway line, naming it Okonkwo & Sons.

Due to linguistic differences and the unfamiliarity of Hausa speakers with the Igbo name “Okonkwo,” locals reportedly mispronounced the name as Kwankwosons.

Over time, that name was simplified further and became Kwankwaso, which was eventually adopted as the name of the entire locality where the company was situated.

Sanusi’s statement, shared publicly on July 1, 2017, was part of a broader message urging unity, tolerance, and mutual respect among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.

He posed a rhetorical question to critics of inter-ethnic relations, asking how anyone would expect the descendants of Chief Okonkwo, who have lived, traded, and contributed to the economy of Kano for over 90 years, to simply leave and return to the East.

The former Emir’s message was interpreted by many as a response to rising ethnic tensions at the time, particularly calls for Igbo residents to vacate Northern Nigeria following threats issued by some Northern youth groups.

It also highlighted Sanusi’s consistent advocacy for national integration, economic cooperation, and the recognition of the contributions of non-indigenous communities across the federation.

Kwankwaso, the town in question, would later gain political prominence as the birthplace of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a two-term governor of Kano State, former minister, and influential Northern politician who founded the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

Observers see the irony that a town named after a mispronounced Igbo name would eventually produce a leading Hausa-Fulani politician, further reinforcing Sanusi’s point about Nigeria’s deeply intertwined identities.

The revelation has since been cited in various forums discussing inter-ethnic harmony and the historical presence of the Igbo people in Northern Nigeria.

Sanusi, known for his bold and intellectual leadership style, was deposed as Emir in 2020 but was reinstated in 2024 following political changes in Kano State.

He remains one of Nigeria’s most respected voices on reform, unity, and economic modernization.

His message from 2017 remains relevant today as Nigeria continues to grapple with questions of national identity, equity, and peaceful coexistence among its over 250 ethnic groups.

By highlighting a hidden piece of Kano’s history, Sanusi offered a subtle but powerful reminder: the Nigerian story is not written in isolation, it is a tapestry of shared struggles, blended cultures, and mutual contributions.

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