Died Same Week: Prominent Nigerians From The Three Main Tribes

RENOWNED ECONOMIST, SAM ALUKO

Renowned economist, Prof. Sam Aluko, who died in the early hours of Tuesday last week at a private hospital in Newcastle, England lived a life worthy of emulation. The elder statesman died at the age of 83. His wife of 56 years was by his bed when he breadth his last.”

Aluko was the first Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ife, now called Obafemi Awolowo University. In 1981, he served on a committee constituted to produce a framework for the Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma in the old Bendel State.

He was one of Nigeria's most prominent economists who have had a fair share of public exposure. His economic philosophy tows the lines of John Maynard Keynes.

He was born in August 17, 1929 to the Aluko Fagbohun family of Ode Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Aluko achieved a rare feat of finishing his MSc with Distinction at the London School of Economics.

As a student in LSE, he criticised the budget of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo so much that the Western Region decided to withdraw his scholarship and requested that he should return home. The school authorities however replied that if the scholarship was withdrawn, the school would take over and foot the bill. He was thereafter sent a letter of congratulation signed by Chief Awolowo.

He started his education in his home town at St Mary's School, Ode Ekiti, he was there from 1936-1940, before moving to Emmanuel School, Ado Ekiti; he also attended Christ's School, Ado Ekiti.

He then took time studying privately and later achieved a Second Class honours in Economics from the University of London.

His chosen profession early in life was high school teaching and administration.

He was the principal of Zik's College of Commerce, Sapele and Vice-principal of Lagos City College. During the period, he participated in various local organisations including membership of the Ode Ekiti Progressive Union and the Ekiti's People's Party in 1953.

ABDULKADIR DANTATA

Chairman of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company, Alhaji Abdulkadir Sanusi Dantata died at the age of 67 last week at a German hospital.

 The late Alhaji Abdulkadir was a grandson of the Kano's famous business mogul Alhassan Dantata.

He was also chairman of ASADA Group that is involved in manufacturing, trading, shipping and farming.

Born on September 1, 1945, at Sarari Dantata Quarters of Kano city, Alhaji Abdulkadir was the eldest son of Sanusi Dantata, from a family of renowned businessmen.

In 1956, he went to Sudan and later to Kumasi, Ghana for advanced Islamic studies. In 1960, he returned to Nigeria to complete his primary education at Kuka Primary School Fagge, Kano. He obtained a Grade II Teacher Certificate in 1968.

He then joined the family business of cotton, groundnut and other agricultural products and logistics.

In 1970, Alhaji Abdulkadir established his company, Dantata Land and Sea, which was involved in transportation, civil engineering construction, and farming.

Alhaji Abdulkadir established with German partners the joint venture company called Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company in 1975.

He was also the chairman of many companies including Brunelli Construction Co. Ltd, Asada Granite & Marble, W.J Syndicate, Goguwasia Trading Company Beijing China.

Alhaji Abdulkadir, who holds the National Honour of CFR, left behind many children and grandchildren.

Samu Aluko dies at 83 Professor Aluko, a native of Ode- Ekiti in Ekiti State, was said to have been flown out of the country last month after protracted illness.

When Daily Trust visited residence of the late economist at No. 20 Owo Avenue in Ijapo, sympathizers were gathered to condole with Aluko's family members.

Mr. Kola Idowu, who is one of the late Aluko's siblings, described Aluko's death as a great shock to the family.

Most renowned for his idea which introduced the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under General Sani Abacha, the late Aluko was a graduate of the London School of Economics.

Whilst a student there in the 1950s, he criticised the budget of the government of Obafemi Awolowo so often that to shut him up, the Western Region withdrew his scholarship and requested that he returned to Nigeria.

The school authorities however replied that if the scholarship were to be withdrawn, the school would take over and foot the bills. He was thereafter sent a letter of congratulations signed by Chief Awolowo himself.

By the time Nigeria's Constitutional Conference was held in 1957, Awolowo invited the young Aluko for dinner, and thereafter began to seek his counsel on economic policies.

When Nigeria attained independence in 1960, Aluko entered politics as the Secretary General of the Ekiti Peoples Party from where he was elected Chairman of the Ado District Council.

Aluko served as economic adviser to Generals Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar. He was also an adviser to the then Ondo State governor Michael Ajasin in the Second Republic.

MATTHEW TAIWO MBU

Matthew Taiwo Mbu, popular as MT Mbu, was born November 20, 1929. A lawyer, politician, diplomat and a permanent fixture in Nigeria's political affairs for more than 50 years, he was born in Okundi, Cross River State.

He received his early education at Okundi Primary School from 1937 to 1940. He also attended the Kakwagon Seminary School between 1941and 1943, before proceeding to Middle Temple and University College, London, from 1955 to 1959, where he received the LLB and the LLM. Mbu was called to the Bar, Middle Temple.

Mbu's political career began with his membership of Parliament from 1952 to 1955. He served Nigeria in various capacities, including: Federal Minister of Labour, 1954, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), 1955 to 1959 and Representative of Nigeria, Washington DC, 1966.

He was the youngest Nigerian ever to be in the federal cabinet. Between 1960 and 1966, Mbu was in Parliament. During the latter period in Parliament, he was Minister of Defence in charge of the Navy.

He was appointed Chairman, Eastern Nigeria Public Service Commission in 1967, and became Member, Constituent Assembly from 1977 to 1978. He was the first national vice-chairman of the Nigeria People's Party from 1979 to 1981 before moving to the National Party of Nigeria from 1981 to 1983.

Mbu represented the country as an ambassador to some countries, including a recent appointment as Ambassador to Germany.

Mbu was Foreign Minister from January to November 1993.

February 13, 2012