Dantata’s Burial Postponed to Tuesday in Medina

The burial of renowned Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, has been rescheduled to Tuesday following a delay in transporting his body from Abu Dhabi to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

According to the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, the Saudi government is still processing necessary documentation, causing the postponement. A delegation of high-ranking Nigerian officials, including Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Kano Governor Abba Yusuf, and Emir Sanusi II, have already arrived in Medina for the funeral.

In Kano, the state’s Council of Ulama held funeral prayers in absentia for the late business icon.

Prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have condoled with the family and described Dantata’s death as a national loss. They prayed for his soul to rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.

Former Vice president of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar described the demise of billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, as a loss not only for the people of Kano State, but also Nigerian business community and Africa at large.

Atiku in a statement by Mr Paul Ibe, his spokesman, said Dantata’s immeasurable contributions to the national economy and job creation stand tall and called for him to be immortalised.

On his part, former Anambra state Governor and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, expressed his sadness over “the exit of a business mogul who changed the face of business in Northern Nigeria”. He described the late Dantata as “a humble man who was outstanding in leadership.”
In a statement by his Media office, Obi said:
”His humility, compassion, and simplicity, even in vast wealth, are virtues worth emulating. He uplifted not just Nigeria’s economy but the Nigerian people through his wisdom in commerce and his philanthropy.”

Born on May 19, 1931, Dantata was the 15th of 17 children in a family with a storied history in commerce and enterprise. He was the son of Alhassan Dantata, a legendary merchant who laid the foundation of a business empire that would span generations.

Aminu Dantata began his education at Dala Primary School in 1938 and completed his studies in 1949 through home education at a private school established by his father.
He joined the family business, Alhassan Dantata & Sons, in 1948 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the head of the company in 1960 after the death of his brother and former managing director, Ahmadu Dantata.

Under his leadership, the Dantata business empire expanded its interests across several industries, including construction, petroleum, finance, and manufacturing.
 He was the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd. and played a significant role in the establishment of Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first non-interest banking institution.

His influence extended to public service. In 1968, he was appointed Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, and Industry in Kano State under Governor Audu Bako.
He also served on the board of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank and was part of Nigeria’s first global economic mission after independence.

During Nigeria’s indigenisation policy era in the 1970s, Dantata’s companies acquired stakes in prominent firms, including Mentholatum, SCOA, Funtua Cotton Seed Crushing Company, and Raleigh Industries.