If she is mother to Africa’s Richest Man, Aliko Dangote, its not immodest to reveal that Hajiya (Dr) Mariya Sanusi Dantata, is the daughter of Sanusi Dantata, Kano’s famous richest man who had an unequalled business relations with European traders in colonial times.

Mind you, her grandfather, Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, was an outstanding businessman, who was well known in the continent and beyond, in the ’80s. Then, her brother, Abdulkadir Sanusi Dantata, is one of the founders of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company and Asada Farms.

Meanwhile, Hajiya Mariya sits on the boards of numerous companies, including MRS Oil and Gas, Mentholatum Nigeria Limited and the Dangote group.

A well respected businesswoman in Kano, Hajiya Mariya cannot be ignored in a crowd.

The bond which exists between Aliko Dangote and his mother is second to none as he is always on frequent visits to Kano being the only son born to his father, Mohammed Dangote.

Aliko Dangote’s father, Mohammed is one of the business associates of the Dantatas and that was where his parents’ paths crossed and they got married.

The love that exists among the Dantatas can’t be described. It is said that Aliko’s mother’s brother, Alhaji Abdulkadir Sanusi Dantata, gave Dangote a breakthrough with a loan which he started his business with.

Even Aliko’s philanthropic nature must have being inherited from the Dantatas, who are extremely generous, not only in Kano state but Nigeria as a whole.

Hajia Mariya Dantata is well known for her love for the less privileged and a she is a philanthropist per excellence. Surprisingly, none can rival her concern for the down-trodden, her capacity to empower those around her and the patience with which she exhibits her deeds of human upliftment.

She was the cynosure of all eyes last weekend when she a hosted in Kano, families, friends and associates at the Kamu/Yini night for her granddaughter, Fatima, who wedded Jamil Abubakar.

In 2017, Hajia Marya Sanusi Dantata completed a multi-million naira juma’at mosque in Kano State and she is said to feed an average of 5,000 people daily.

She is said to have donated schools and hospitals to her community. She donated a hospital, which she built at Rijiya Lemu, to the Kano State Government in 2003.

Little wonder, it was due to her contributions to the society that the Bayero University, Kano, awarded her an honorary doctorate degree.

Source: Kemi Ashefon