Ismaila Isa Funtua
{{Short description|Nigerian statesman (1942–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ismaila Isa Funtua
| image =
| alt =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|01|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Funtua, Northern Region,
British Nigeria
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|07|20|1942|01|17|df=y}}
| death_place = Abuja, Nigeria
| alma_mater = Ahmadu Bello University
University of Manchester
National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies
| occupation = Administrator
| known_for = publishing, business
| spouse = Hauwa Ali Akilu
}}
Ismaila Isa Funtua {{small|OFR, mni}} (17 January 1942{{Cite web | url=https://dailyasset.ng/alhaji-ismaila-isa-funtua-1942-2020/ | title=Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua (1942-2020) | date=21 July 2020 }} – 20 July 2020) was a Nigerian statesman{{Cite web|date=31 December 2016|title=Lifetime achievers Isa Funtua: Principles trump opportunism|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/lifetime-achievers-isa-funtua-principles-trump-opportunism/|access-date=21 July 2020|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}} who served as a Federal Minister in the Second Nigerian Republic.{{Cite web|last=Admin|date=3 November 2016|title=FUNTUA, Alhaji Isma'ila Isa|url=https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/alhaji-ismaila-isa-funtua-ofr/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation|language=en-US}} After government service, Isa Funtua went into business where he cultivated clients, business associates and friends who extended his interests beyond the normal scope of a businessman.{{Cite web|title=Rulers of Nigeria: The 10 most powerful persons in Buhari's govt|url=https://punchng.com/rulers-nigeria-10-powerful-persons-buharis-govt/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Punch Newspapers|date=5 June 2016|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|date=26 April 2020|title=Funtua and chief of staff – The Nation Nigeria|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/funtua-and-chief-of-staff/|access-date=20 July 2020|newspaper=The Nation Newspaper|language=en-US}} Ismaila Isa Funtua died on 20 July 2020 after a cardiac arrest.{{Cite web|date=21 July 2020|title=Nigerian President Loses Second Confidant With Death of Funtua|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-21/nigerian-president-loses-second-confidant-with-death-of-funtua|website=Bloomberg}}
He was a long time personal friend and close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari; and was a very influential figure in the Buhari administration.{{Cite web|title=Isa Funtua on Nigeria's realpolitik|url=https://punchng.com/isa-funtua-on-nigerias-realpolitik/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Punch Newspapers|date=15 January 2020|language=en-US}} He was also a prominent member of the infamous Kaduna Mafia, a loose group of Nigerian businessmen, civil servants, intellectuals and military officers from Northern Nigeria.{{Cite web|date=18 November 2018|title=Kaduna mafia: Metamorphosis of a power broker|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/kaduna-mafia-metamorphosis-of-a-power-broker/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Tribune Online|language=en-GB}}
Life
Ismaila Isa was born in Funtua in January 1942. He received Islamic education, where he learnt the Qur'an, Islamic jurisprudence and the traditions of Muhammad. He later attended the Commercial College in Zaria, Federal Training Centre in Kaduna and the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. He also attended the University of Manchester,{{Cite web|title=Mallam Ismaila Isa|url=https://mainstream.com.ng/Ismaila-Isa.html|access-date=20 July 2020|website=mainstream.com.ng}} and was the Monitor-General of Course 9 of the Senior Executive Course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.{{Cite book|last=Briggs|first=Deinbo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YL35op5VsIkC&pg=PA82 |title=A Jolly Gentle General: Biography of Charles Bebeye Ndiomu|date=11 October 2012|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-4772-6909-1|language=en}}
A highly capable administrator, Isa Funtua started his career in the Katsina Native Authority, where he eventually rose through the ranks working in the defunct North Central State. He later joined United Textiles Limited in Kaduna, where he was the personnel manager showcasing "great managerial finesse" over ten thousand workers.{{Cite web|date=3 November 2016|title=FUNTUA, Alhaji Isma'ila Isa|url=https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/alhaji-ismaila-isa-funtua-ofr/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation|language=en-US}} He was a member of the 1994 Constitutional Conference under General Sani Abacha;{{Cite web|date=20 July 2020|title=Isa Funtua, President Buhari's Confidant Passes On|url=https://humangle.ng/isa-funtua-president-buharis-confidant-passes-on/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=HumAngle|language=en-US}} was listed as a target by the regime.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}
He then retired into private business where he became a director of several companies. He was the founder of Funtua Textiles Limited,{{Cite web|date=26 June 2020|title=Nigeria's Funtua mill expansion to revive cotton farming|url=https://kohantextilejournal.com/nigerias-funtua-mill-expansion-cotton/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Middle East Africa Textile News – Kohan Textile Journal|language=en-US}} and managing director of the Democrat Newspaper.{{Cite web|date=23 September 2019|title=Kyari, Daura, others in Buhari's kitchen cabinet have two things in common: journalism, UK education|url=https://www.icirnigeria.org/kyari-daura-others-in-buharis-kitchen-cabinet-have-two-things-in-common-journalism-uk-education/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=The ICIR|language=en-GB}} He was also the founder and Chairman of Bulet Construction Company (one of the largest indigenous construction companies in Nigeria), responsible for building several federal buildings. He was a Life Patron of the International Press Institute and the President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.{{Cite web|date=20 July 2020|title=Mallam Isa Funtua is dead|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/07/breaking-mallam-isa-funtua-is-dead/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}
Death
Ismaila Isa Funtua died after a cardiac arrest{{Cite web|date=20 July 2020|title=BREAKING: Isa Funtua, Buhari's ally, is dead|url=https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-isa-funtua-buharis-ally-is-dead|access-date=20 July 2020|website=TheCable|language=en-US}} in the late hours of 20 July 2020.
Family
Isa Funtua was the grandson of Late Ammani Funtua. His father was called Isan Ammani when he was alive, he died in 1945 when Samaila was just three years old. He has 5 children, Abubakar, Fatima binta, Halima, Amina and Aliyu,he has 8 grandchildren but only 2 are publicly known which are isa abubakar isa and ibrahim ahmed kuru .{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Lara|date=10 January 2019|title=Who Is Abubakar Ismaila Isa Funtua?|url=https://olatorera.com/who-is-abubakar-ismaila-isa-funtua/|access-date=20 July 2020|website=Olatorera Consultancy Limited|language=en-US}}
References
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N546wiVpUmQ Interview] with Arise News on YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Funtua, Ismaila Isa}}
Category:People from Katsina State
Category:Ahmadu Bello University alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester
Category:Members of the Nigerian National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies