Nasir Yusuf Gawuna was born on August 6, 1967, in Kano City, Nigeria. He is a prominent health professional, businessman, and politician. Gawuna was the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for Kano State in the 2023 election and previously served as the Deputy Governor of Kano State.

Gawuna's educational journey began at Gawuna Primary School, where he studied from 1973 to 1979. He then attended Government Secondary School Gwaram (now in Jigawa State) for his junior secondary education. After completing his high school studies at Science Secondary School Dawakin Kudu in 1984, he pursued a one-year preliminary program at the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, which he completed in 1985. He continued his education at Usman Danfodiyo University, graduating with a degree in Biochemistry in 1990.

On August 5, 2018, Gawuna was appointed Deputy Governor of Kano State by Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, following the resignation of the previous Deputy Governor. Prior to this role, he served as the Commissioner for Agriculture in Kano State. He also chaired the Kano State Taskforce Committee on COVID-19 and held the position of Chairman of Nassarawa Local Government Area for eight years under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).