Alhaji Aminu Dantata, an illustrious elder statesmen and business magnates is dead
He died in the early hours of Friday, June 27, 2025, at 3:00 a.m. in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He was 94.
A statement issued by his family expressed deep grief over the loss and invoked prayers for his soul. “Innalillahi Wa’inna Ilaihi Raji’un… May Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family, the people of Kano, and Nigeria the fortitude to bear this great loss,” the family stated.
He will be remembered for legacy of philanthropy and economic impact
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
A Legacy Etched in History
Alhaji Aminu Dantata, a towering figure in Nigeria’s economic development, was the grandson of the legendary West African merchant, Alhassan Dantata, and the great-grandfather of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
Dantata was born in Kano and began his early education at Dala Primary School between 1938 and 1945. He continued with home studies in 1949 through a private school founded by his father.
His career in public service included a significant stint as the Kano State Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, and Industry from 1968 to 1973 under Governor Audu Bako’s administration. His contributions during that period helped lay the foundation for Kano’s industrial expansion.
Champion of Education, Patriarch of Industry
Beyond commerce, Dantata was a major proponent of education. He served as the pioneer Chancellor of Al-Qalam University, Katsina, reinforcing his passion for human capital development.
His business ventures spanned construction, agriculture, import/export, and manufacturing. He remained a central figure in Nigerian enterprise, guided by the legacy of the Dantata family’s pivotal role in trade with British firms during the colonial era
