President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Kano to personally condole with the family of Aminu Dantata, the late business mogul and philanthropist, who passed away on June 28 at the age of 94.
The president landed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport from Abuja on Friday and proceeded to the residence of the Dantata family.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the visit was necessary given Tinubu’s absence from the country at the time of Dantata’s death and burial in Saudi Arabia.
“President Tinubu was out of the country at the time of Dantata’s passing but directed some of his ministers, led by the Defence Minister, to attend the burial in Saudi Arabia as a mark of honour for the late nonagenarian,” Onanuga said in a statement.
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Dantata, a respected industrialist and scion of the prominent Dantata family, died in Abu Dhabi after a brief illness.
His remains were buried in Medina in accordance, in a ceremony attended by a federal government delegation.
Tinubu had earlier issued a condolence message describing the elder statesman’s death as a significant blow to the nation.
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He praised Dantata’s lifelong commitment to commerce, philanthropy, and national development.
Born in 1931, Dantata was the last surviving son of Alhassan Dantata, one of West Africa’s most prominent pre-independence merchants.
Over the decades, Dantata played a leading role in shaping Nigeria’s private sector, serving on the boards of major corporations and investing heavily in community development, education, and healthcare.
His philanthropic footprints spanned decades and benefitted countless communities across Nigeria, earning him respect beyond the business world.
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The president is expected to return to Abuja later today after concluding his condolence visit.
