By Jaafar Jaafar
Think of what Sarki Alhaji would have made Kano if there were petrodollars in those days!

On June 29 1934, emir of Kano Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero (1881-1953) visited the famous Rowntree Chocolate factory in York, England. Holding the historic twin-spear staff (tagwayen masu), the emir visited several places before leaving London on July 11, 1934.
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Popularly known as Sarki Alhaji, the late emir was the father of modernity in Kano.
With a meager income, largely from taxes and levies, he established the first water treatment plant in Challawa and the first modern textile company in Nigeria, the Gwammaja Textile Mills. Under him, Kano Printing Press was established and electricity distribution went beyond the Native Authority offices to residential areas.
Sarki Alhaji also modeled the present-day Kano Central Mosque (the best in Nigeria at the time) after an Egyptian mosque. He got the design when he stopped over in Egypt from Mecca. He was the first emir of Kano who performed Hajj pilgrimage.
Under his leadership, industries sprang, trade boosted and markets throve. During his reign, trading started at Kantin Kwari and Sabon Gari markets. Under him Kano Airport moved to its present site from its first site near BUK Old Site (a place now known as Afforestation), just as Kano Judicial School, Kano Middle School (now Rumfa College), School for Arabic Studies, Kano Hospital (Murtala Mohammed Hospital), Kano Technical College (then known as Trade Centre) and Women Teachers College were established. Under Sarki Alhaji, girl-child education started in Kano.
Think of what Sarki Alhaji would have made Kano if there were petrodollars in those days!