‘We’ve lost an irreplaceable institution’ — Shettima mourns Aminu Dantata

By Kunle Sanni

Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined in mourning the passing of Nigerian business titan and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, describing his death as a major national loss and the end of an era.

Dantata, a revered figure in Nigeria’s economic and philanthropic landscape, died at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the early hours of Saturday. His death was confirmed by his Personal Secretary, Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid.

In a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima described Dantata as “an irreplaceable institution” and “a living bridge that connected us to our past.”

“We have not just lost a leader; we have lost an irreplaceable institution,” Shettima said, paying tribute to Dantata’s profound influence on Nigeria’s business and political evolution. “In African tradition, when such an elderly person transitions, a vital chapter of our history departs with them.”

Born into the renowned Dantata family of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Dantata expanded his father’s legacy to become a towering figure in sectors ranging from construction and agriculture to banking and oil and gas. His impact extended far beyond commerce, as he dedicated much of his life to philanthropic efforts—funding schools, mosques, healthcare facilities, and supporting the less privileged across the country.

Vice President Shettima extended his condolences to the Dantata family and the people of Kano State, praying for strength in their time of mourning and for Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus.