- By the time he turned 92, he described aging as a burden on both his body and health.
- Aminu, the last surviving son of Alhassan Dantata, passed away in Abu Dhabi at the age of 94.
- He left behind a legacy of industry, philanthropy, humility, and grace.
Aminu Alhassan Dantata, one of Nigeria’s most prominent business figures and a member of the legendary Dantata dynasty, has died at the age of 94.
Known for his extensive landholdings, business acumen, and philanthropic generosity, Dantata passed away in Abu Dhabi, marking the end of a remarkable era in Nigerian commerce and public life.
Born in May 1931 as the 15th of 17 children, Dantata was introduced to business at a young age, a path paved by his father’s legacy.
By age 24, he was managing the family enterprise’s interests in Sokoto. At 36, he made headlines by purchasing an aircraft for $15,000—later upgrading to a jet worth $2.5 million.
Yet, despite his wealth, he often described himself modestly as merely having enough to provide for himself.
Dantata received both Islamic and Western education, attending Dala Primary School from 1938 to 1945, before completing his studies at a private school founded by his father in 1949.
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AND EXPANSION
Dantata inherited a robust entrepreneurial tradition. Following the death of his father, Alhassan Dantata, in 1955, he and his siblings assumed control of the family business, Alhassan Dantata & Sons.
By 1958, he had risen to the position of deputy managing director, and in 1960, after his elder brother’s passing, he assumed full leadership.
Under his direction, the company diversified widely—expanding into sectors including banking, petroleum, agriculture, real estate, construction, and manufacturing.
He later founded Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd and played a central role in launching Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first Islamic banking institution.
He once noted that he owned land “all over the world”—a philosophy passed down from his father, who viewed real estate as the cornerstone of enduring wealth. “In Nigeria, there is hardly a place I don’t have land,” Dantata once remarked.
He also served as board chairman of Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc, further solidifying his influence in the business sector.
A QUIET PATRON OF SPORT
Despite his business stature, Dantata remained largely out of the spotlight. According to his nephew, Munzali, whom he raised as a son, he had a deep passion for sports—particularly football and polo.
“He kept racing and polo horses that competed across Kaduna, Lagos, and even as far as Chad and Niger,” Munzali recalled.
“His joy was unmatched when his horses won trophies.” As age and health began to slow him, Dantata stepped away from the sporting scene.
Munzali described him as more than a businessman: a generous donor, sports enthusiast, and one-time political actor. He plans to chronicle these aspects of his uncle’s life in an upcoming book.
Dantata’s philanthropy was substantial. In 2024, he donated ₦1.5 billion to victims of a devastating flood in Maiduguri, one of the largest individual contributions in response to the crisis.
POLITICAL CAREER AND REFLECTIONS
Dantata’s political involvement began in the early days of Nigeria’s independence movement. He was a youth member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), raising funds for the party while riding a bicycle through neighborhoods.
Party leaders once considered him for a key leadership role, but he declined, citing his father’s disapproval due to ties with the traditional emirate structure.
In 1961, he was elected to represent Kura district in the Northern House of Assembly. Seven years later, he was appointed Kano State’s Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, and Industry under Governor Audu Bako.
Later in life, Dantata grew disillusioned with the political climate, lamenting the decline of integrity and honesty in public affairs.
“What I see in politics today is disheartening,” he said. “We have lost our commitment to truth.”
FACING THE END WITH GRACE
In his final years, Dantata spoke openly about mortality. By 2022, at age 91, he had outlived most of his peers and family. The death of his second wife, Rabi, in 2023 compounded his grief.
“I’ve been to every state in Nigeria and built lasting relationships, but now, I can hardly name ten people I once knew who are still alive,” he said during a visit from then-vice presidential candidate Kashim Shettima.
He expressed a sense of closure, saying, “I’m just waiting for my time. I hope I leave peacefully. I’ve forgiven those who wronged me, and I ask for forgiveness from those I may have wronged.”
By 92, he described aging as a growing burden, both physically and emotionally. “The world feels so heavy now,” he said.
Aminu Dantata, the last surviving son of Alhassan Dantata, leaves behind a legacy defined by industriousness, generosity, and humility. His contributions to Nigeria’s economic and social development will be remembered for generations.
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