Nigeria Mourns as Alhaji Aminu Dantata is Laid to Rest in Madina’s Baqiyya Cemetery

 On July 1, 2025, Nigeria’s revered business icon and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, was laid to rest in the sacred Baqiyya Cemetery in Madina, Saudi Arabia, following his death at age 94. 

The funeral, attended by thousands, including a high-level Nigerian delegation led by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, featured a Janaza prayer at the Holy Mosque. Dignitaries such as Emir of Kano Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II and Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar joined mourners, with Saudi authorities granting rare access for Yusuf, Namadi, and Sanusi to view Dantata’s body before burial. Governor Yusuf described the moment as “deeply emotional,” noting Dantata as “a father figure and guiding light for generations.”

Dantata, whose family name is synonymous with Nigeria’s commerce, transformed traditional trading into a $1 billion empire in construction and civil engineering, creating 10,000 jobs. His philanthropy, including funding 5,000 scholarships and healthcare for 1 million Nigerians, was praised by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as “an earthshaking loss to Africa.” 

Atiku highlighted Dantata’s humility and quiet generosity, noting his role in fostering peaceful coexistence. The burial, costing thousands of dollars, marked the end of an era, with Kano’s business community projecting a 5% economic dip due to his absence. Nigeria plans to immortalize him by renaming a federal institution, with consultations set for Q4 2025.