KANO BUSINESS ICON, AMINU DANTATA, DI£S AT 94
Prominent Kano industrialist and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, has passed on at the age of 94.
The announcement was made on Saturday through a Facebook post by his Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid.
“It is with heavy heart that I announce the passing of our beloved father, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata,” Junaid wrote. “May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaus and forgive his shortcomings. The Janazah details will be shared later, Insha Allah.”
Alhaji Dantata died on Friday at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, according to multiple sources, despite earlier conflicting reports suggesting he passed in Abuja.
Born on May 19, 1931, into the renowned Dantata dynasty, he was the son of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, one of West Africa’s richest merchants in the early 20th century. He was also the paternal uncle to Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s grandfather, further cementing his position in Nigeria’s most influential business lineage.
Founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd, Dantata was a towering figure in Nigeria’s private sector, with interests cutting across oil and gas, construction, banking, agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, and finance. He played a pivotal role in expanding the family empire from a regional trading business to a diversified conglomerate.
Beyond the boardroom, Dantata left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s socio-political and humanitarian landscape. He was a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee for Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution and served in various capacities within the Kano State Government.
He was widely revered for his humility, deep Islamic faith, and lifelong commitment to philanthropy. Through personal initiatives and his foundation, Dantata invested heavily in education, healthcare, religious infrastructure, and social welfare across Northern Nigeria. He built schools, mosques, hospitals, orphanages, and provided scholarships and relief materials to thousands.
Tributes have continued to pour in following his death. Uba Tanko, Deputy National Treasurer of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), described him in a social media post as “a pillar of commerce and a beacon of humanitarian service.”
Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s passing marks the end of an era for Kano and Nigeria’s business community at large. His legacy lives on through the lives he impacted and the institutions he built.
