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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.
The 15th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II greeting Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata holding a rosary bead while Hajiya Umma Bayero watches during the commissioning of Danladi Nasidi Mosque built by Mariya Dantata on 2nd June 2022
She also has a foundation through which she runs her charity activities.
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.
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Her networth should be more than 2 billion