Kano-based business mogul and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, is dead.
He was aged 94.
His Personal Private Secretary (PPS), Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, confirmed the passage of the elder statesman.
While expressing grief in a message shared with the public, Junaid said, “Innalillahi, wa inna ilaihi raji’un . It is with heavy heart that I announce the passing of our beloved father, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata. May Allaaih grant him Jannatul Firdaus and forgive his shortcomings. The Janazah details will be shared later, insha Allah.’
The Chairman of the Kano Council of Ulama, Malam Ibrahim Khalil said the funeral prayer (Salatul Janazah) for the late Dantata would hold by 2:00 PM at Umar Bin Khattab Mosque, Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano.
“May Allah forgive him,” the council’s statement read.
Dantata hails from the legendary Dantata family of Kano.
Alhaji Aminu Dantata was the son of Alhassan Dantata, one of West Africa’s wealthiest men in the early 20th century.
He upheld his family’s legacy and nutured it to bigger growth over several decades, becoming a leading figure in Nigeria’s commercial, religious, and philanthropic spheres.
Aminu Dantata’s business interests cut across construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and oil and gas. Under his leadership, the Dantata business empire flourished and became a cornerstone of Nigeria’s private sector growth.
He was appointed into many public and private sectors, mentoring generations of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and civic leaders.
Apart from his immense business engagements and influence, Dantata was very popular and respected for his modesty, religious devotion, and unwavering commitment to community development.
His philanthropic endeavours was well known cutting across the establishment and funding of schools, mosques, health centres, orphanages, and support for widows and the underprivileged across Nigeria, particularly in the northern region. His personal foundation and low-profile donations impacted countless lives over the decades.
He is survived by children, grandchildren, and a vast network of admirers who continue to uphold his enduring legacy.
Already, many highly placed people have started paying tributes from business leaders, political figures, religious scholars, and ordinary Nigerians who benefited from his generosity and guidance.
