Aminu Dantata, one of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen, will be buried in Saudi Arabia after her death in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
Dantata, a business tycoon of African uncle Aliko Dangote, left behind three wives, 21 children and 121 grandchildren.
His body was transferred from Abu Dhabi to the holy city of Medina after Saudi authorities approved his funeral in the country.
This is where he wishes to be buried in the city he worships, the place where the prophet Muhammad of Islam lives and dies.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called Dantata’s death “a huge national loss” in a statement.
He said Dantata has made a “contribution of pound” to Nigeria’s growth and development through decades of business, services and philanthropy.
He is famous in Nigeria for his charitable activities. Last year, he donated 1.5 billion naira ($972,000; £710,000) to victims of devastating floods in the northeast Borno state.
His commercial interests span agriculture, real estate, construction and manufacturing.
He first named it in agriculture and began trading Kola Nuts and peanuts in the 1940s.
He comes from a business family – his father, Alhassan Dantata, was once considered the wealthiest person in West Africa.
Despite his wealth, Dantata lives in one of the poorest areas in the northern city of Kano, like his previous parents.
His influence was also felt politically, and politicians were eager to seek blessings before the election.
Video of President Tinob’s 2023 elections hit social media.
He held a special prayer for him in Kano, where he spent his whole life.
Two Nigerian governors and defense ministers went to Medina for funerals.
Dantata studied Islamic education and then went to the middle school his father built in Kano.
“In our family, a child starts learning how to learn how to make money from the age of five, six or seven,” he said in one of the most popular interviews last year.
“Our father would tell us: ‘You see how people bring peanuts on donkeys and sacks – you should also know how to start making money.” During school breaks, our fathers would use their time to teach us how to do business. ” he said.
He started his full-scale adventure at the age of 17, taking over as head of business his father established in Bichi in the 1950s.
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