The 16th Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, has urged Nigerians to take ownership of their own narratives by documenting their history and the achievements of their forebears.
The royal father made the call at the public presentation of two books authored by Dr Munzali Dantata, titled ‘Behind the City Wall’ and ‘Aminu Dantata: Life and Times of a Nigerian Entrepreneur,’ held at Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He warned that, “if we do not write our history, others will write it for us.”
Sanusi II, who was was Father of the Day at the event, said writing and preserving history are vital for national identity, stressing that the story of Kano’s greatness could not be complete without acknowledging the contributions of its legendary business families like the Dantatas.
“When Munzali came to me and told me about these books, I said to him, we need to write our own story. This is what we do not do enough of, especially in this part of the country. Winston Churchill famously said, ‘History will be kind to us because we intend to write it.
“The history of Kano is not complete without the history of the established business and commercial families that built that economy over centuries. Works like these may be biographies, but through them, we see the story of an entire society,” the Kano monarch stated.
Drawing from personal experience, the Emir recalled a touching story involving his late father and the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata. He narrated how Dantata once offered to settle his father’s bank loan to relieve him of crushing interest rates after retirement.
“That act of generosity defined him for me. I never forget those who were kind to my parents. We are here not only to celebrate a man and his family, but to celebrate Kano, a city built on a culture of excellence and a determination to be the best in everything, be it scholarship, commerce or tradition.”
The representative of Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, at the event, the Commissioner for Information, and the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Investment, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, said the Kano State Government recognised the importance of such initiatives in preserving the city’s legacy.
Delivering the governor’s goodwill message, Kibiya praised Dantata’s literary effort and reaffirmed Kano’s place as a hub of commerce and culture.
“The two books before us ‘Behind the City Wall’ and ‘Aminu Dantata: Life and Times of a Nigerian Entrepreneur’ are modern literary works, records of memory, identity, and heritage.
“They remind us that Kano has for centuries been a centre of commerce, scholarship, and culture, shaping not only the destiny of our state but also that of Nigeria and Africa.”
He also paid tribute to the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, describing him as one of Nigeria’s greatest entrepreneurs, industrialists, politicians and philanthropists whose life embodied vision, discipline and generosity.
Also speaking, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who served as Chief Launcher, commended the author for his commitment to preserving the legacy of an outstanding Nigerian whose impact transcended generations.
“Today we are not just launching a book; we are celebrating a great man. Alhaji Aminu Dantata was a father figure to many, a patriot who loved this country deeply. His story is a reminder that greatness comes from service, humility, and a deep commitment to others.”
Saraki recalled his personal encounters with the late business magnate, noting his humility and unwavering love for Nigeria.
“He often told me how sad he was about the state of the country. He would say, ‘How can I be happy when in the 1970s one pound was equal to one naira, and today it is over a thousand?’ His heart bled for Nigeria.”
He urged the Dantata family to continue his legacy of service, patriotism and enterprise, describing the late industrialist as a colossal figure in Nigerian history.
Author of the books, Dr Munzali Dantata, said the works represent a fusion of personal and collective histories that define the Kano spirit of resilience and innovation.
“My two books are twin stories of a people and a man bound by one idea that progress begins with enterprise,” he explained. “The Kano philosophy, born of a simple truth, was shared with me: that the prosperity of a people is inseparable from the enterprise of its citizens.”
