The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expressed sadness over the passing of a respected Nigerian business mogul and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, who passed away on Saturday.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, SDP said Alhaji Dantata’s memory will continue to be etched on the minds of many Nigerians across the divide, for the great impact he made in national development, the many lives he touched, the destinies he transformed, and the generation of young entrepreneurs that he mentored and moulded unto greatness.
SDP stated that Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata was a great philanthropist during his lifetime.
“He made huge donations to many worthy causes for enhancement of human dignity, such as education initiatives, healthcare, and the promotion of Islamic causes. His marks will remain indelible on the sands of time.
“He, it was, who made the remarkable donation of the Alhassan Dantata Heamodyalis Centre to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, which has saved many lives.
“The entire SDP family of Nigeria commiserate with the Dantata dynasty, the government and people of Kano State, as well as all Nigerians whose lives, the great man touched in one always or the other.
“Indeed, Nigeria has lost a rare gem. May the great soul of Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata find repose,” the statement read.
As an entrepreneur of great acclaim and an iconic frontliner in the oil and commodity sector of the Nigerian economy, he founded the greatly successful Express Petroleum and Gas Company Ltd, which he grew into a big player in the Nigerian oil industry. He was also reputed as a leading figure in the promotion and establishment of Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first non-interest (Islamic) Bank, which is making great impacts in the banking industry.
Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata was born into the famous Alhaji Alhassan Dantata of the Agalawa trading family in Kano, renowned for its generational entrepreneural acumen.
The late illustrious Kano elder statesman who served as one of the promoters of the popular Kano State Foundation, was a popular politician who started with the Northern Elements Progressives Union (NEPU), before 1956, and later joined the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) between 1956 to 1966.
He later served as a member of the Northern House of Assembly (from Kano) between 1960 to1967; Commissioner for Planning, Development, Trade and Industry under the late Governor Audu Bako, between 1967 to 1973, as well as a member of the National Movement which evolves into the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1978. In 1964, he also served as a member of the pioneer board of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB).
