Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has mourned the passing of the Vice President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote, who died in the United States of America (USA), after a protracted illness.
Late Sani is the brother of Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
In a statement, Governor Obaseki described the news of the death as shocking, noting that he was deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss.
According to him, “Having known Sani for many years and developed a close bond with him and the Dangote family, the news is as devastating as it is numbing.
“A thorough-bred businessman and pacesetting entrepreneur, Sani had a knack for excellence, which is evident in the chains of businesses he set up and managed, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, banking and oil services.
“He turned every business enterprise he touched into success stories. He built a thriving business empire and diversified into different fields. Some of the businesses he owned are Dansa Foods Limited, Dansa Energy, Sagas Energy Limited, Bulk Pack Services Limited, Dansa Agro Allied Limited, and Dangote Farms Limited.”
He continued: “His deep interest in agriculture is expressed in the nature of companies he set up, which were focused on farming and agro-processing, as well as in the fertilizer business. He no doubt was a towering personality in Nigeria’s private sector. Sani made insightful contributions to the Edo State Palm Oil Initiative, for which we remain grateful.
“As chairman of Dansa Holdings, Sani brought a new verve to the beverages sector of the economy, growing the business to become one of the most notable brands in the country.”
Describing late Sani as a boardroom guru, the governor noted that his expertise “earned him appointments into the boards of several companies, notable among which include Nigerian Textile Mills Plc, Nutra Sweet Limited, Gum Arabic Limited, Dangote Textile Mills Limited, Alsan Insurance Brokers, Dan-Hydro Company Limited, Dansa Food Processing Company Limited and Dangote Farms Limited.”
“Sani was compassionate and kind, seeking the best for friends and associates. He was an avid polo player and two-time president of the Lagos Polo Club, where his chivalry and good nature were infectious.
“On behalf of the government and the good people of Edo State, I extend deep-felt condolences to the Dangote family, as well as friends and associates, and pray that God will grant us all the fortitude to bear this painful loss,” he added.
