Renowned Kano industrialist and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, has passed away at the age of 94.
His death was confirmed on Saturday by his Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, in a Facebook post.
“It is with a 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 was the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd. and a leading figure in Nigeria’s business landscape for decades. He was also the brother of the grandfather of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man.
Born on May 19, 1931, he was the son of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, one of West Africa’s most influential merchants in the early 20th century. Aminu Dantata carried forward his family’s legacy with distinction, becoming a pillar of commerce and philanthropy in Northern Nigeria.
Over the course of his career, he expanded the Dantata business empire, with interests spanning construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, real estate, and the oil and gas sector. His vision and leadership left an indelible mark on the Nigerian private sector.
Beyond business, Alhaji Dantata served in various public roles, including as a member of the Kano State Government and the Constitution Drafting Committee responsible for Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution. He was a mentor and advisor to generations of entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and Islamic scholars.
Widely revered for his humility, piety, and unwavering commitment to social development, Dantata devoted much of his wealth to charitable causes. Through both his foundation and personal initiatives, he financed the construction of schools, mosques, hospitals, orphanages, and other community-focused infrastructure across Northern Nigeria.
His passing has been met with tributes from across the country. Uba Tanko, Deputy National Treasurer of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), honored Dantata’s legacy in a heartfelt social media post, describing him as “a giant of enterprise and humanity.”
While initial reports varied regarding his place of death, multiple sources have confirmed that Alhaji Dantata died at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Friday.
Details of the Janazah (funeral prayers) will be announced by the family in due course.
May his soul rest in peace.
