Nigerian monarch Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, takes home N442 million from MTN

Nigerian monarch and Islamic traditional ruler Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, received a total compensation package of R5.4 million—about N442 million (approximately $324,000)—from MTN Group for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2025.

The payout came as Africa’s largest mobile operator reported a strong financial recovery, driven largely by improved performance in Nigeria and Ghana, where easing currency pressures and tighter spending helped stabilize earnings.

Retainer, meetings, assignments boost pay 

Sanusi, who served as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, has been an independent non-executive director at MTN since July 2019. His 2025 compensation rose from R5.07 million, or about N412.1 million (roughly $304,000), the year before.

His tenure at the central bank was marked by sweeping banking reforms and a high-profile dispute with the federal government over missing oil revenues, an episode that cemented his reputation as an outspoken public figure.

A breakdown of the 2025 package shows R1.82 million (N148 million) in retainer fees and R1.37 million (N112 million) for board meeting attendance. Additional payments included R829,000 (N67.4 million) for special board assignments, R631,000 (N51.3 million) for strategy sessions, and R785,000 (N63.8 million) for ad-hoc work. The figures reflect the time demands placed on non-executive directors at large multinational firms. 

Influential Emir shapes business governance

At MTN, Sanusi as an independent non-executive director sits on the risk management and compliance committee, the finance and investment committee, and the social, ethics and sustainability committee. Outside the telecom group, he chairs Black Rhino Management Services Limited and holds several other corporate directorships.

Sanusi is one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional leaders. Known as Muhammadu Sanusi II, he is the spiritual head of the Tijaniyya Sufi order in Nigeria and the emir of Kano. He first ascended the throne in 2014, was removed in 2020 after disagreements with local authorities, and was reinstated on May 23, 2024—an outcome that drew widespread public attention.

Before becoming emir, Sanusi built a career as an economist, banker and public intellectual. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Islamic Law as well as a doctorate in Islamic Law, underpinning his long-standing advocacy for financial discipline, transparency and social reform.