The Kano state government has declared Friday, May 11, as public holiday in honour of late Isyaku Rabiu who died on Tuesday at a London hospital.
This is contained in a statement signed by the State Commissioner of Information, Malam Mohammed Garba and issued to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
He said the public holiday was declared to enable Muslims in the state attend the funeral prayer of the deceased which is scheduled to take place on Friday at the Sheikh Isyaku Rabi’u Juma’at mosque in Kano metropolis.
According to the Commissioner, the funeral prayer will take place at 2:30 pm immediately after Juma”at prayer.
A renowned philanthropist, business mogul and Islamic cleric, Khalifa Sheikh Rabi’u died on Tuesday at a London hospital after a protracted illness.
The remains of the deceased are expected to arrive Kano on Thursday.
The Kano businessman died on Tuesday in a London hospital aged 89, after a protracted illness.
Messages of condolence have been pouring in from eminent Nigerians to the family.
Although not much was heard about him in the years leading to his death, Rabiu was one of the richest Nigerians around.
He was born on October 9, 1928 into the family of Muhammadu Rabiu Dan Tinki in Bichi, Kano State. His father was an Islamic scholar who ran his own quraniic school.
He established his holding company, Isyaku Rabiu and Sons in 1952. His company started off trading in sewing machines, religious books and bicycles; and, later, textiles.
As at the time of his death, the company had a history of investment in manufacturing, insurance, banking and real estate.
A billionaire and philanthropist, he was, until his death, a Tijjaniya Muslim leader.
