Blackstone and Black Rhino have announced the appointment of Lamido Sanusi, Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank, as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Black Rhino was formed in January 2012 to develop and to invest in transformational infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa’s power generation and fuel transportation sectors.

“I am honored to join the Board of Black Rhino, a company that is looking to develop infrastructure projects in places where there is the most need to transform communities,” said His Highness Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.

“We live in a time of intense competition for capital and I do hope that by joining the Board I can play some part in bringing some of that capital nearer to home.”

Sanusi was named Emir of Kano in June 2014, the second-highest Muslim authority in Nigeria.

Prior to his appointment, Sanusi had a distinguished 25-year career in banking.

He began his career in 1985 at ICON Merchant Bankers, a subsidiary of Morgan Guaranty Trust and Baring Brothers, and later ran the credit and risk management division at the United Bank for Africa.

In 2005, Sanusi moved to First Bank, where he was named managing director in 2009.

In June 2009, in the midst of the global financial crisis, Sanusi was appointed Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank.

“One can scarcely imagine a stronger addition to the Black Rhino Board. The Emir has unparalleled insights into Africa’s regional and local socio-economic development needs and the role that power and infrastructure development can play,” said Brian Herlihy, Black Rhino’s Founder and CEO.

“We know as Chairman of Black Rhino, the Emir will provide business as well as moral guidance in all our endeavors across Africa. It is an honor and a privilege to announce His Highness, the Emir of Kano as the Chairman of Black Rhino.”

“Emir Sanusi has a comprehensive mastery of the interdependence of Africa with the global economy,” added Mimi Alemayehou, Chair of Blackstone African Infrastructure LP and Managing Director at Black Rhino.

“He has the courage and integrity necessary to give us the full, candid and impartial counsel that a long-term investor in Africa needs. We are gratified and, indeed, privileged to have a partner of such immense stature alongside us as we chart our course.”