Some people die while they live but others, though they are no more, live in the hearts of those who they touched writes PEMBI STEPHEN-DAVID.
Dantata & Sawoe has lost a visionary and passionate chair, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Everyone who has been fortunate enough to know and work with or for Abdulkadir Dantata, a leading figure from the famous Dantata family of Kano and chairman of Dantata & Sawoe Company has lost a dear friend and mentor.
A construction professional, Dantata was one of the foremost experts on leadership, entrepreneurship and development issues in the country. He was the kind of creative thinker any nation should be proud to count among its resourceful class. His intelligence and understanding of the need to make an impact in all he set his mind to do stood him out.
What made Abdulkdir Dantata unique is his mantra for accountability for maximum growth. He was tireless in the performance of his many duties. He went about every now and then, to inspect the facilities of his company and interacts with employees. He made sure that those who should be deservedly rewarded were rewarded. He was passionate about what he did.
Mostly, there is the courage it takes to stand up and resist interference of restructuring a business set up, Dantata was diligent in making sure that what is worth doing is worth doing well not minding whose ox is gored.? He was a sun, not a satellite. He generated his own energy.
Dantata was many things to different people because he was brilliant and curious and was not fooled by what most people define as success. Dantata made good his role of continual improvement of operations of the companies he worked for or owned.
A detribalised Nigerian, Dantata was the nation’s North, its South and West. He was a delight to work with and a joy to work for. To the worker, he was a happy week, to the applicant, he was a hopeful hour and to the haves not, he was a good weekend.
Dantata died in a German hospital on Tuesday, was age of 66. The Kano-born businessman, who was an uncle to one of the world’s richest men, Aliko Dangote, was also the chairman of Asada Group Limited. Dantata worked at what he loved. He worked really hard every day. He was never embarrassed about working hard, even if the results were failures.
A philanthropist per excellence, the late Dantata, was born on September 1, 1945, at Sarari, Dantata Quarters of Kano Municipal. He was the eldest son of Alhaji Sanusi and Mairo Dantata of the famous Dantata family in Kano.
He started his Islamic education from the age of five in 1950, and six years later, he proceeded to Sudan and then to Kumasi, in Ghana, for advanced Islamic studies. By the year Nigeria got her independence, he returned home to complete his primary education. He went to Kaka Primary School, Fagge, Kano.
Four years later, he got admission into Kano Advance Teacher’s College (ATC), where he obtained a Grade II Teacher’s Certificate in 1968. It was from then that he joined the family business, dealing mainly in cotton and groundnuts, and later became the head of the family’s business as the Managing Director, Sanusi Dantata and Sons Ltd.
By 1970, he established his own company, and named it Dantata Land and Sea. The business concern, dealt largely in transportation, civil engineering construction, and farming, among others. It was the company that undertook road construction projects in most northern states and some neighbouring African countries.
Dantata founded the Nigeria Industrial Group Ltd in 1974. The industry produced and marketed nails, chain link fencing, B.R.C. wire, and barbed wire, among other needs of the construction sector. By 1975, he, together with some German partners, established the Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, Nigeria Limited, which became a household name in Nigeria.
He also chaired several other companies, prominent among which were Brunelli Construction Co. Ltd, Asada Granite and Marble, W. J Syndicate and Goguwasia Trading Company, Beijing China. He was also the chairman of a joint venture company with the Chinese, which manufactured Artiquick medicine for eradication of malaria in West Africa.
In 1976, he was appointed chairman of Kano Textile Company and was also on the board of several other companies, like the Cotton Ginning Co. Ltd, and Niger Farms and Foods Ltd.
Dantata was one of those at the forefront of the establishment of the Kano State University, located in Wudil. He was among the recent recipients of the Federal Government’s national honour, as Member of the Federal Republic (MFR.) He was also a recipient of an honorary doctorate degree of the Benue State University, Makurdi.
As an advocate of multi-economy, he ventured into mechanised large-scale farming, including the renewable energy of bio-fuel plantation for clean environment under Asada Farms. He was at the crucial stage of developing the mining sector in Nigeria, with a view to helping in diversifying the country’s economy, by ensuring that its citizens do not rely on oil alone for revenue earnings.
He is survived by two wives, 19 children and several grand-children.
MBU
For over fifty years, the Nigerian judiciary, politics and diplomatic relation had matchless moments of their histories because Matthew Tawo Mbu offered an honest combination of wisdom and conviction that the nation needed.? It will be impossible to quantify Mbu’s role in shaping the country. It is has been said that there are two types of managers in the world: those who want to be somebody great and those who want to do something great. Mbu was the latter and Nigeria is better because of that.
To say Mbu carried out his duties efficiently would be an understatement, for he gave the country not only the benefit of his considerable ability, but rare devotion and personal enthusiasm for his work. A gifted administrator known for his calm, effective decision making, Mbu, like any achiever worth his salt, changed the fortune of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora-he was the peoples’ ambassador. In every assignment, he acquitted himself well with the qualities of courage and dash, girt and determination.
He was a man of, for and about the people.? He was genuine and shared his true self through his work and through his commitment to all his endeavours. Hekept people at ease with his honesty. Mbu is a powerhouse. He has a work ethic that is incomparable. He was great? because of his hard work and his sheer force of will.?
Mbu attended Okundi Primary School from 1937 to 1940. He was educated at the Kakwagon Seminary School between 1941and 1943, before proceeding to Middle Temple and University College, London, from 1955 to 1959, where he received the LLB and the LLM. Chief Mbu was subsequently called to the Bar, Middle Temple.
Mbu was the leader of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA).The late politician was born in Okundi, Cross River State in November 20, 1929. He was a lawyer, politician, diplomat, and a permanent fixture in Nigerian political affairs for more than fifty years.
Mbu’s political career began with his membership of Parliament from 1952 to 1955. He has also served the country in various capacities including: Federal Minister of Labour in 1954; High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1959; and a representative of Nigeria, Washington DC in 1966.
He holds the distinction of being the youngest Nigerian ever to serve in the federal cabinet. Between 1960 and 1966, Mbu returned to serve again in Parliament. During the latter stint in Parliament, he also doubled as Federal Minister of Defense for Naval Affairs.
He was appointed Chairman, Eastern Nigeria Public Service Commission in 1967, and became Member Constituent Assembly, 1977-78. He was first national vice-chairman, Nigeria People’s Party, 1979 to 1981 before ‘decamping’ to the National Party of Nigeria from 1981 to 1983.
On several occasions, Mbu has represented the country as an ambassador to foreign countries including a recent appointment as Ambassador to Germany. He has also served as the Pro-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was married to Katherine Anigbo and blessed with six children.