Skip to main content
Kaduna Business School

Dr. Dahiru Sani, PhD, ACS, PBDSP

Contact Information

Kaduna Business School
17 Gobarau Road, U-Rimi, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Phone: +234 8065879967
Email: dahiru.sani@kbs.edu.ng
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drdahirusani

Dr. Dahiru Sani, PHD, ACS, BDSP

Founder & Director, Kaduna Business School

Professional Summary

Seasoned development leader with a track record of managing large, multi-partner programs in Nigeria focusing on economic opportunity, inclusive finance, and growth-oriented policy reform.

He is an accredited Business Development Professional (BDSP), and a Chartered Stock Broker (ACS) with expertise in strategy development, portfolio landscaping, cross-program integration, donor/government engagement, and private-sector partnership development. Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams, advance DEI and gender integration, translate evidence into scalable capacity building, and influence policy and practice.

Education

  • PhD (Development Finance), Institute of Capital Market Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria – Defence Stage
  • PhD (Finance), Central University of Nicaragua, 2014
  • MBA, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1997
  • BSc (Business Administration), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1991

Early Career Roles

  • Senior Associate / Regional Manager, Continental Trust Bank / UBA (1998–2003):
    Roles spanning SME lending, risk management, and financial services expansion; foundational experience in financial systems for inclusive growth.
  • Factory Management Accountant, Automobile Peugeot (1992-1997):
    Car Component Nomenclature, stock and cost flow management.

Teaching, Supervision, & Curriculum

  • Design and deliver executive education and graduate modules in entrepreneurship, SME finance, innovation, and development policy.
  • Supervise master’s and PhD candidates in development finance, ICT for development, and private-sector development.
  • Lead industry–academia partnerships to improve graduate employability and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Teaching, Supervision, & Curriculum

  • Entrepreneurship & SME Finance
  • Development Finance & Financial Inclusion
  • Innovation & Leadership in Emerging Markets
  • Executive Education & Capacity Building
  • Policy Engagement and Public-Private Partnerships

Academic Appointments & Leadership

  • Founder & Director, Kaduna Business School (KBS), Kaduna, Nigeria (2003–present):
    Built a leading executive education and entrepreneurship hub; designed and delivered SME finance, innovation, and leadership programs; led fundraising, partnerships, and overall organizational growth; nurtured industry and public-sector linkages to advance practical, market-relevant outcomes.
  • Vice President, Business Development (Africa), Transcontinental University (USA) (2019–present):
    Architect of Africa-focused DBA streams; facilitate academia–industry collaboration and 18+ partnerships with corporate/government/public sector actors; align offerings with private-sector needs to enhance graduate employability.
  • Embedded Economic Adviser, Government of Kaduna / World Bank (2016–2018):
    Provided strategy and public finance reform advice; strengthened the investment climate and growth; built bridges between government priorities and international partners.
  • Co-Chair, GIZ ICSS Steering Committee (Inspire Create Start Scale) (2023–present):
    Strategic direction, capacity building, and scalable delivery for entrepreneurship scaling; coordinate cross-partner activities (Kaduna Business School, GIZ, SMEDAN).
  • Grant Consortium Project Director, AGRA BDS Framework, Nigeria (2025–present):
    Leads nationwide BDS strategy and multi-donor portfolio management; oversees budgeting, reporting, and donor/government dialogues.

Courses Taught

Kaduna Business School, Enterprise Development Center – Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, Kaduna State University

  • Entrepreneurship, Financial Inclusion, Development Finance
  • Executive Education: SME Finance & Growth, Leadership for Entrepreneurs
  • Undergraduate/Graduate: Principles of Economics for Development, Economics of Innovation
  • Special Topics / Seminars: Financial Systems for Inclusive Growth, Public-Private Partnerships in Emerging Economies
  • Leadership and Organisational Dynamics and Performance Management

Sample Syllabi (highlights)

  • Entrepreneurship & SME Finance (Graduate): 8–10 weeks; learning goals include diagnosing SME financing gaps, designing financial inclusion interventions, and pitching a scalable SME finance plan. Assessments: case analyses, a policy brief, and a capstone business plan.
  • Financial Inclusion Policy (Graduate): 6–8 weeks; focus on bank-led and non-bank financial services ecosystems; deliverable: policy memo to the central bank or regulator; guest speaker sessions with industry and government.
  • Innovation & Leadership in Emerging Markets (Executive Education): 4 weeks; emphasis on leading cross-functional teams, scaling social enterprises, and change management.

Teaching Responsibilities & Leadership

  • Course development and revision to align with program learning outcomes; implement inclusive teaching practices and active learning.
  • Supervision of graduate research: master’s theses, PhD committee participation, and industry-sponsored projects.
  • Curriculum alignment with industry needs: ongoing liaison with business schools, government agencies, and private sector partners to ensure relevance and employability.

Teaching Philosophy

  • Emphasize learning by doing, bridging theory and practice, and evidence-based teaching.
  • Commit to inclusive pedagogy that expands access and success for diverse students.
  • Prioritize outcomes: workplace readiness, actionable research, and social impact through entrepreneurship and policy engagement.

Research, Publications, and Scholarly Output

Active Research and Publications

Sani, Dahiru. 2026. “SME Financing and Economic Growth in Nigeria.” Working paper, Nasarawa State University, Keffi. Status: Under review.

Sani, Dahiru. 2026. “The Effect of Financial Inclusion on Economic Growth in Nigeria.” Working paper, University of Benin (IJETI). Status: Under review.

Sani, Dahiru. 2026. “The Effect of Debt Maturity Structure on Firm Performance in Nigeria.” Working paper, Ahmadu Bello University, JGAF. Status: Under review.

Sani, Dahiru. 2026. “Ownership Structure and Agility in Nigerian Conglomerates: Implications for Performance.” Working paper, Centre for International Research Development (CIRD). Status: Under review.

Sani, Dahiru. 2026. “Digital Disruption and Earnings Quality.” Working paper, American Serial Publications (ASP). Status: Under review.

Sani, Dahiru. 2026. “Bottom-Line Analysis of CSR Expenditure on Financial Resilience.” Working paper, Hollex Publications. Status: Under review.

Akutson, S., & Sani, D. 2026. “Effect of Financial Technology on Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.” British Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. Published.

Selected Studies & Outputs

Sani, Dahiru. 2018. “Landscape Analysis of Creative Industries in Northwest Nigeria.” British Council Landscape Analysis; Northwest Nigeria. Impact: Informed regional policy discussions and investment planning for the Northwest Nigerian creative economy.

Sani, Dahiru. 2020. “The Kaduna State Agricultural Investment Plan.” Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Kaduna State, Nigeria. Impact: Guided investment prioritization and catalyzed private-sector engagement in Kaduna’s agricultural value chains.

Sani, Dahiru. 2021. “Feasibility Study for an IT-enabled Recycling Ecosystem in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.” JICA; Abuja, Nigeria. Impact: Established a viability framework for scalable IT-enabled recycling, guiding piloting and policy support.

Sani, Dahiru. 2023. “The Nigeria We Want—The Youth Futures Strategy for Nigeria.” Ford Foundation; MacArthur Foundation; Nigeria. Impact: Shaped national youth policy discourse and informed program design.

Sani, Dahiru. 2023. “Strategic Foresight for IHS Transition in Changing Times.” IHS Towers; Nigeria. Impact: Enabled scenario planning for resilience in telecom infrastructure and workforce strategy.

Sani, Dahiru. 2023. “What the Future Holds for Tech Hubs in Nigeria.” Abuja Technology Village; Nigeria. Impact: Mapped tech-hub ecosystems and informed investment and policy support.

Sani, Dahiru. 2024. “Redefining GGHN future in an era of donor fatigue.” USAID/Georgetown University Health Program in Nigeria; Nigeria. Impact: Refined donor engagement models and sustainability planning for health networks.

Sani, Dahiru. 2023. “Competition dynamics of the Nigerian energy transition landscape.” Total Energies Renewable Energies Division; Nigeria. Impact: Informed energy transition policy debates and private sector investment strategy.

Sani, Dahiru. 2025. “Road map for planning research and strategy at NERC.” Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission; Nigeria. Impact: Shaped regulatory research directions and policy development for the electricity sector.

Sani, Dahiru. 2025. “Future-proofing Donna Spectre in a VUCA world.” Donna Spectre Limited; (Nigeria). Impact: Built resilience planning and scenario-based decision-making for leadership in a volatile environment.

Sani, Dahiru. 2025. “A future outlook: Pivoting RMRDC for sustainable import substitution in Nigeria.” Raw Materials Research and Development Council; Nigeria. Impact: Outlined strategic pathways for domestic substitution and industrial policy alignment.

Awards, Honors & Grants

  • Steering Committee Member, AGRA Multi-Donor Cost-Sharing Fund for BDS in Nigeria (2025)
  • AIB Founders Award (2024); Kaduna Business School
  • Various leadership, policy, and training recognitions

Certifications & Professional Development

  • Accredited National Business Development Service Provider (BDSP) – 2021
  • TEF Canada: Advanced French – 2023
  • IMF: Financial Development and Inclusion – 2024
  • Systems Thinking – Udemy, 2024
  • Scenario Planning – Udemy, 2024
  • Agribusiness Business Models – Udemy, 2024
  • Development Economics Certification – Udemy, 2024
  • GIZ ICSS Certified Trainer – 2023
  • ACS: Associate of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers – 2021
  • IFC Business Edge Certified Trainer – 2011, 2016

Languages

  • English (Fluent)
  • French (Professional working proficiency; TEF Canada Advanced, 2023)