President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the late elder statesman and business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, as a “titan of integrity, humility, and generosity,” whose entire life was dedicated to selfless service, philanthropy, and compassion.
During a condolence visit to the Dantata family in Kano on Friday, President Tinubu said the passing of the 94-year-old industrialist on June 28, 2025, in Dubai, was a deeply personal loss for him and the nation.
“This is a deeply personal visit for me. I came to condole with the Dantata family and the good people of Kano. He was not just a respected figure; he was part of my family,” the President said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu recalled the spiritual guidance and blessings he received from the late philanthropist during his 2023 presidential campaign, emphasizing Dantata’s humility and quiet strength.
“I came to him for prayers before the election, and he gave me his blessings. I promised to come back and thank him, but instead of me visiting, he came to Abuja. That was the kind of man he was: humble, simple, and sincere,” Tinubu recounted.
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Describing Dantata as a symbol of national conscience, Tinubu praised his unwavering honesty and commitment to the well-being of others.
“If friendship and goodwill continue into the hereafter, Dantata will be there in the marketplace, feeding the hungry and comforting the sick. He gave so much of himself to the service of our country and its people,” the president added.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to the Dantata family, the people of Kano State, and the entire nation, praying that Almighty Allah grants the deceased eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who received the president, expressed the deep appreciation of the state and the Dantata family for Tinubu’s show of compassion and support during their time of mourning.
Governor Yusuf commended the president for dispatching a high-level federal delegation to attend the funeral rites in Saudi Arabia and acknowledged Tinubu’s diplomatic efforts in facilitating necessary arrangements with leaders in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
READ ALSO: Saudi Govt Approves Burial Of Late Dantata In Madina
“The entire process was seamless and successful, thanks to your leadership and support,” Yusuf said.
He also thanked the president for previously sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to condole with the family and for taking time out of his demanding schedule for the personal visit.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the eldest son of the deceased, Alhaji Tajudeen Aminu Dantata, thanked President Tinubu for his continued show of respect and affection for their late patriarch.
“We witnessed your relationship with him before you became president. On behalf of the family, we thank you wholeheartedly. You have proven, even in his death, that he was truly dear to you,” he said.
Alhaji Tajudeen assured the President that the family would strive to uphold the legacy and values of the late business icon while offering prayers for Tinubu’s strength and success in leading Nigeria to greater heights.
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Joining the president on the condolence visit were several top government officials and dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of State for the FCT Mariya Mahmud, Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Other prominent attendees included the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi; Africa’s richest man and nephew of the deceased, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai; and business magnate Alhaji Mohammed Indimi.