During his school years, he was actively involved in student leadership and served as an elected official in the Kano State Students Association. Kwankwaso furthered his studies by pursuing postgraduate engineering at Middlesex Polytechnic and Loughborough University of Technology in the United Kingdom, where he obtained a master’s degree in water engineering.
Political Career:
Kwankwaso embarked on his political journey in 1992 when he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was elected to the House of Representatives, representing the Madobi Federal Constituency, and later became the House’s deputy speaker.
He actively participated in the 1995 Constitutional Conference as a delegate from Kano and was a member of Yar’adua’s People’s Democratic Movement. Kwankwaso also played a role in General Sani Abacha’s political transition program as a member of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN).
In 1999, Kwankwaso won the PDP primaries and was elected as the Governor of Kano State, serving from 1999 to 2003. Despite facing opposition and challenges during his first term, he was re-elected as governor from 2011 to 2015. During his second term, he focused on infrastructure development, including the construction of roads, hospitals, and schools.
Kwankwaso was also one of the founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and actively supported Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential candidacy in 2015.
Philanthropy and Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation:
Following his tenure as governor, Kwankwaso established the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation (KDF), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in Kano and Nigeria as a whole.
The foundation provided financial support to numerous students, enabling them to complete their studies and secure employment opportunities. Kwankwaso also funded the release of prisoners by paying fines and facilitating their transportation back to their families.
The Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation actively promoted education by building schools, such as the solar-powered, 300-student capacity school in Kano’s Rano local government.
Additionally, the foundation distributed cash, food items, and sports equipment to the less privileged, widows, individuals with disabilities, and orphans, contributing to poverty alleviation and sports development in Nigeria.
Conclusion:
Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s remarkable political career and philanthropic efforts have left an indelible mark on Nigerian society. From his tenure as the Governor of Kano State to his role in national politics and establishment of the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation, Kwankwaso has remained dedicated to serving his community and improving the lives of the underprivileged. His contributions in education, poverty alleviation, and sports development continue to inspire positive change in Nigeria.
