Ismaila Isa Funtua

Ismaila Isa Funtua died after a cardiac arrest in the late hours of 20 July 2020.

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. He was a member of the 1994 Constitutional Conference under General Sani Abacha; was listed as a target by the regime.

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.

Ismaila Isa Funtua OFR, mni (17 January 1942 – 20 July 2020) was a Nigerian statesman who served as a Federal Minister in the Second Nigerian Republic. 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. Ismaila Isa Funtua died on 20 July 2020 after a cardiac arrest.

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 the Prophet 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, and was the Monitor-General of Course 9 of the Senior Executive Course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.