Aminu Alhassan Dantata, the legendary businessman from Kano, began his foray into commerce before the age of ten, continuing a long-standing family tradition. Trained by his father from a young age, he and his siblings were taught the fundamentals of trade, the value of money, and the power of entrepreneurship.
By 24, Dantata was already managing the family business as a district manager in Sokoto. At 36, he purchased his first aircraft for $15,000, and a year later, upgraded to a jet worth $2.5 million. Despite such success, he humbly referred to himself as “just rich enough to take care of himself.” Born in May 1931 as the 15th of 17 children, he received both Islamic and Western education—attending Dala Primary School from 1938 to 1945 and graduating from a private school founded by his father in 1949.
A Towering Business Legacy
Dantata hailed from one of Nigeria’s most powerful business dynasties. As the younger brother of Sanusi Dantata, he was also the granduncle of Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man. Following the death of his father in 1955, Aminu and his siblings assumed control of the family business, Alhassan Dantata & Sons. He became deputy managing director in 1958 and, after his brother Ahmadu’s death in 1960, took full leadership.
Under his stewardship, the business expanded into sectors including banking, petroleum, agriculture, real estate, construction, manufacturing, and finance. He later established Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd and played a pivotal role in founding Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first non-interest bank.
Dantata often emphasized land ownership as a pillar of generational wealth, a belief passed down from his father. “I can’t even list all the land I own around the world, not just in Nigeria,” he once said. He also served as board chairman of Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc.
Beyond Business: A Man of Many Passions
Though renowned in business, Dantata kept a low public profile and rarely granted interviews. His nephew, Munzali—whom he raised as a son—recalled his deep love for sports, particularly football and polo.
“He owned racing and polo horses that competed in Kaduna, Lagos, and even in Chad and Niger,” Munzali noted. “He was always thrilled when his horses won, though he later retired from sports due to age and weight.”
Dantata’s legacy extends beyond commerce and sports. He was a generous philanthropist and political figure. In 2024, he donated ₦1.5 billion to victims of flooding in Maiduguri.
Political Life and Principles
Dantata’s involvement in politics began during Nigeria’s transition to independence. As a member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), he was once nominated to lead the party’s youth wing due to his grassroots fundraising efforts. However, he declined the position out of respect for his father, a respected member of the Kano emirate.
His political journey continued when he was elected to the Northern House of Assembly in 1961, representing the Kura district. In 1968, he was appointed Kano State Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, and Industry under Governor Audu Bako.
Later in life, Dantata expressed his disappointment with the decay of honesty in Nigerian politics. “What I see today is heartbreaking. Integrity has been lost. People now distort truth and support wrongdoing. It’s not right,” he lamented.
Aging, Loss, and Final Reflections
In 2022, at 91, Dantata spoke openly about aging and the loneliness that came with it. With most of his friends and siblings gone, and after losing his second wife, Rabi, in April 2023, he admitted that life no longer brought him joy.
“I’ve traveled to every part of Nigeria and built lasting relationships. But now, I can barely name ten people I once knew who are still alive,” he said during a visit from then APC vice-presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima.
“Truly, I’m just waiting for my time. I pray to leave this world in peace. If I’ve wronged anyone, I seek their forgiveness. If anyone wronged me, I’ve already forgiven them.”
By 92, Dantata described aging as a heavy burden and decried the state of the world as “horrible.”
A Graceful Exit
Aminu Alhassan Dantata, the last surviving son of Alhassan Dantata, passed away in Abu Dhabi at the age of 94. He left behind not just wealth, but a monumental legacy defined by business acumen, generosity, quiet strength, and a deep sense of personal reflection.
