Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a prominent Nigerian elder statesman, astute businessman, respected philanthropist, and revered community leader, passed away last Friday at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In accordance with his wishes and Islamic tradition, he was buried on Tuesday at the revered Al-Baqi Cemetery, following funeral prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. His demise marks the passing of one of Nigeria’s foremost and illustrious figures.

His passing drew widespread condolences from across the nation. President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, paid glowing tribute, describing Alhaji Dantata as a "prominent business mogul, patriot, and elder statesman who contributed significantly to the growth and development of our nation." The President emphasized that Dantata would be remembered for his "industry, diligence, steadfastness, and great commitment to national unity through his many business ventures and philanthropic activities that touched countless lives of Nigerians," imploring citizens to emulate his extraordinary generosity and philanthropy. Vice President Shettima, on behalf of the President, visited the Dantata family residence in Kano to offer prayers and sympathy, highlighting that Dantata was "a good man, full of the fear of God" who "helped a lot of people, not just here in Nigeria but in other parts of the world."

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, also paid a condolence visit to Kano State. He first visited the Dantata family residence in Koki, where Tajudeen Dantata, the eldest son, and Munzali Dantata, his younger brother, received him. Governor Radda offered special prayers for the deceased and later condoled his Kano State counterpart, Abba Kabir Yusuf, describing Dantata’s passing as a great loss to both Kano State and Nigeria. Both governors subsequently accompanied Vice President Shettima to Aminu Kano International Airport to bid him farewell after his visit. Munzali Dantata, speaking for the family, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and clarified that the late elder statesman’s request to be buried in Saudi Arabia was honored by the Saudi government.

Born on May 19, 1931, Aminu was one of the 17 children of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, the visionary founder of the family business dynasty. His early education included Islamic studies before attending Dala Primary School in Kano from 1938 to 1945, followed by private studies at a home school built by his father in 1949. He subsequently joined the family firm, Alhassan Dantata & Sons, taking on the crucial role of buying agricultural products. In this capacity, he played a significant part in the prominence of the groundnut pyramids in Kano, which symbolized the region's agricultural prowess. Following his father's death in 1955, the young Aminu and his elder brother, Ahmadu, collaboratively took the helm of the burgeoning family business.

Upon the counsel of British colonial officials in the 1940s, the Dantata family began modernizing their business operations, a trend continued by succeeding generations who diversified into various sectors including transport, property, construction, manufacturing, petroleum, agriculture, and banking. This strategic expansion consolidated their reputation as the pre-eminent business force in Northern Nigeria. During the post-civil war indigenisation program of the General Yakubu Gowon administration in the early 1970s, the Dantata Group notably acquired major shares in previously foreign-owned firms such as Mentholatum, SCOA, Funtua Cotton Seed Crushing Company, and Raleigh Industries, further venturing into banking and the oil and gas sectors. Alhaji Aminu Dantata himself was a member of the Nigerian business mission that toured the world in 1961 and served as a pioneer member of the board of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB), now known as the Bank of Industry (BoI), in 1964.

Beyond his extensive business ventures, Aminu Dantata also played critical roles in Nigeria’s political and public service landscape. He was elected to the Northern House of Assembly in 1961 and later appointed Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade and Industry in Kano State in 1968, serving in Police Commissioner Audu Bako’s cabinet until 1973. In 1978, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly responsible for ratifying the 1979 Constitution for the Second Republic, demonstrating his commitment to national governance.

However, as many have attested, the latter part of Dantata’s life was overwhelmingly devoted to philanthropy and selfless service to the less fortunate. For two decades, he generously spent billions of naira, supporting a wide array of noble causes including schools, hospitals, orphanages, widows, physically challenged persons, mosques, and disaster relief efforts. His philanthropic endeavors were characterized by altruism rather than transactional giving or self-promotion, making a profound impact on countless lives. His legacy embodies the kind of selfless leadership and genuine giving that the nation truly needs, always aiming to make society a better place for all. May his soul rest in peace.