Alhaji Aminu Dantata, a highly respected businessman and philanthropist from Kano, has passed away at the age of 94.
His death was confirmed on Saturday in a Facebook post by his Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, who expressed sorrow over the loss and prayed for his forgiveness and a place in paradise. Details of the funeral rites (Janazah) will be made public later.
Dantata was the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd and a key figure in Nigeria’s business landscape. He was also related to Aliko Dangote, being the brother of Dangote’s grandfather.
Born on May 19, 1931, he was the son of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, a renowned West African merchant. He played a pivotal role in expanding his family’s business legacy, venturing into sectors including construction, banking, agriculture, manufacturing, and oil and gas.
Beyond business, he was actively involved in public service and nation-building. He served in the Kano State Government and was a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee that worked on Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution. He was known as a mentor to many young business leaders and public figures.
Dantata was widely admired for his humility, strong faith, and commitment to community development. Through his foundation and personal donations, he supported the building of schools, mosques, hospitals, orphanages, and other vital infrastructure in Northern Nigeria.
Tributes have poured in from various quarters, including Uba Tanko, Deputy National Treasurer of NACCIMA, who praised Dantata’s legacy in a social media post.
While some initial reports claimed he died in Abuja, sources confirmed that he passed away on Friday at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. His family has stated that further details about the funeral will be released soon.
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