Businessman and philanthropist Aminu Dantata has died at the age of 94.
A family source said that the billionaire businessman died on Friday night at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Born in 1931 in Kano, Dantata was the son of legendary merchant Alhassan Dantata, who was regarded as one of West Africa’s richest men in his time.
He was a key figure in Northern Nigeria’s economic development, with investments spanning construction, oil and gas, banking, real estate, and agriculture.
He was the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd and played a major role in establishing Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first non-interest bank.
Dantata also served in public office. He was commissioner for trade and industry in the old Kano State and a member of the 1978–1979 constituent assembly that drafted Nigeria’s Second Republic constitution.
The businessman was known for his philanthropic works, including the construction of schools, mosques, orphanages and a haemodialysis centre at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. He was also a major sponsor of Islamic education in Northern Nigeria.
His death has drawn tributes from prominent Nigerians. The Northern Governors’ Forum described his death as a “monumental national loss.”
Gombe State Governor and chairman of the forum, Inuwa Yahaya, said in a statement that Dantata lived a life of service, integrity and generosity and that his death had created a void that would be hard to fill.
Dantata’s principal private secretary, Mustapha Junaid, confirmed the death in a Facebook post, adding that funeral arrangements would be announced by the family.
Dantata is survived by wives, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.