Among the people who impacted the lives of others in northern Nigeria, Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata is perhaps the most impressive. The billionaire philanthropist feeds at least 5000 people daily in Kano, sponsors thousands of Hajj pilgrimages annually, and builds countless mosques. Mariya Sanusi also once sat on the board of several companies, including MRS Holdings, which her son Sayyu Dantata founded with her help.

Born in the 1940s, Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata is the daughter of Sanusi Dantata, a wealthy businessman. Her grandfather, Alhaji Alhasan Dantata, was the richest person in West Africa on his death. She is also the mother of the richest black person in the world Aliko Dangote.

Marriage and children

Mariya Sanusi Dantata got married in mid 1950s to Mohammed Dangote, who is a business associate of Sanusi Dantata. She gave birth to four children. Garba Dangote, who died after a stroke; Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa and the richest black man in the world; Bello Dangote, who died in 1996 in a plane crash and Sani Dangote, who died in 2021.

Grandchildren

Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata has numerous grandchildren from her 4 sons, including at least 8 grandchildren from Sani Dangote, 15 from Aliko Dangote and more.

Philanthropic Activities

Mariya Sanusi Dantata is an business woman in Kano state. She sat on the board of numerous industries, such as MRS oil and gas and Mentholatum Nigeria Limited. Mariya has a kind heart and loves to give back to society. She helps the poor, orphans and the sick and those in need daily that she was given the title of ‘Uwar marayu da marasa gata’, meaning “mother of the orphans and less privileged.”

Hajiya Mariya also builds schools, hospitals, and mosques. Some of the mosques she built included the Danladi Nasidi Mosque, commissioned by the 15th Emir of Kano in 2017.

She also has a foundation through which she runs her charity activities.

Honours

Because of these feats and more, Hajiya Mariya Sanusi was inducted into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame by the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) in 2019.

Bayero University Kano has also awarded her an Honorary degree because of her contributions to society.

Mariya Sanusi Dantata Net Worth

Though the exact net worth of Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata remains unknown at the moment, she is estimated to have at least 2 billion Naira, which she constantly spends on charity and donations. She comes from a wealthy family and is a rich businesswoman in her own right with many assets, shares in companies, and properties to her own name.

Just like inspirational women like Hajiya Gambo Sawaba inspired a whole generation of women activists and politicians, Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantat is an inspiration for women contributing to society and should thus be celebrated.