PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, undertook a solemn condolence visit to Kano State to pay his respects to the late elder statesman and renowned philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, describing him as “a titan of integrity, humility, and generosity” whose life exemplified compassion, public service, and quiet leadership.
During his visit to the Dantata family residence in Kano, the President met with members of the bereaved family, state officials, traditional leaders, and dignitaries from across Nigeria, paying heartfelt tribute to the legacy of the revered business magnate who passed away in Dubai on June 28, 2025, at the age of 94.
He was laid to rest in Madina, Saudi Arabia, on July 1.
“This is a deeply personal visit for me,” the President said. “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.”
President Tinubu recounted his close relationship with the late patriarch, particularly recalling his visit to Alhaji Dantata ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.
“I came to him for prayers before the election, and he gave me his blessings,” Tinubu said. “I promised to return and thank him, but instead, he came to Abuja. That was the kind of man he was humble, simple, and sincere.”
He went on to describe the late industrialist as a man who lived for others through charitable giving, mentorship, and selfless contributions to national growth.
“If friendship and goodwill continue into the hereafter, Dantata will be there in the marketplace, feeding the hungry and comforting the sick,” he added. “We have lost a titan. We have lost the conscience of our country. May Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant him Aljannah Firdaus.”
President Tinubu was accompanied on the condolence visit by a high-level delegation, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and several ministers.
Also present were key northern leaders, among them Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote (a nephew of the late Dantata), elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, and oil magnate Alhaji Mohammed Indimi.
Speaking on behalf of the government and people of Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf thanked President Tinubu for his consistent support during the mourning period.
The governor recalled the President’s prompt response following Alhaji Dantata’s passing including the dispatch of a high-powered federal delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, to Saudi Arabia for the burial rites.
The Kano State Government, in collaboration with Jigawa State, also joined the delegation in Medina to honour the elder statesman.
“The entire process was seamless and successful, thanks to your leadership and support,” Governor Yusuf noted. “We are grateful for your appeals to the governments of Saudi Arabia and Dubai, which facilitated all the necessary arrangements.”
He commended the President for sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kano earlier in the week and lauded his decision to personally visit the family, despite his demanding national schedule.
“We pray Allah grant our father and elder statesman eternal rest. We also pray for your continued strength and good health, so that you may deliver on your commitment to build a better Nigeria,” the governor said.
Alhaji Tajudeen Aminu Dantata, eldest son of the deceased, spoke on behalf of the family, expressing gratitude for the President’s unwavering friendship and deep personal involvement since their father’s passing.
“Much has been said today about His Excellency’s swift and heartfelt response. You have demonstrated that he was a dear brother and friend both in life and after his passing,” he said.
He pledged that the Dantata family would remain committed to upholding the values of humility, generosity, and integrity that their late patriarch embodied throughout his life.
“We wish you the best of health. For the courage and tenacity you have shown in your effort to lead the country out of its doldrums and on the path to a greater Nigeria, thank you very much. You will always be in our prayers,” he concluded.