Just in: Kano business mogul Aminu Dantata exits at 94

Kano-born billionaire business magnate and nonagenarian, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata is dead.

Aged 94, he died after an old age related prolonged illness.

According to family source, the elder statesman succumbed to death in the early hours of Saturday.

He may be buried later today (Saturday), according to Muslim rites.

Dantata was born on May 19, 1931 and was versed in investment, particularly, in the finance, real estate and petroleum sectors.

Born to the famous he famous business tycoon Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, he Aminu began his business career as a Produce – buyer in Alhassan Dantata and Sons Limited and in 1962 was appointed a member of the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Industrial Development Bank limited and later became one of the Directors of the Bank.

He has also led several Trade Missions to various overseas countries worldwide.

He was elected a member of the Northern House of Assembly in 1966 and the following year appointed a Commissioner in the Kano State Government and served from 1967 to 1973.

He also served as member of the Assembly Drafting Committee for the 1979 constitution which ushered in the second republic.

He was honoured by some universities with honourary degrees. Among which are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Bayero University, Kano, Abia State University, Imo State University, Owerri and Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

The late Dantata was life patron of the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture as well as the patron of Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, the National Council of Farmers and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industries.

He was a recipient of two prestigious national honours – Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Commander of the National Republic of Niger (CONN)

A renowned philanthropist, Dantata spent fortunes in education emancipation, skills acquisition and economic empowerment of the youths.

His disposition to ensuring peace and harmony among business men and politicians in Kano, and Nigeria at large, remained unequaled.

Dantata was also known to have contributed immensely to the growth of Islam.

He was Chancellor of Al-Qalam University and a Non-Executive Director of Jaiz Bank Plc among others.