How to read rows and headers separately into a dataset?

Question

Suppose that the information for constructing a dataset is split over two separate files: one file contains the numeric data, and a second file contains the names of the columns.

Is there a simple way to create a dataset from these two separate files?

Answer 1

columnames=CharacterRange["a","h"];
data= RandomInteger[9,{20,8}];

ds=Dataset[AssociationThread[columnames->#]&/@data]

Answer 2

OK, I found a second way. Like kglr's solution, this one also uses AssociationThread, but applies it only once:

makeDataset[columns_, columnLabels_] := Module[{labeledColumns, records},
   labeledColumns = AssociationThread[columnLabels, columns];
   records = Transpose[labeledColumns, AllowedHeads -> All];
   Dataset[records]
];

The importer can be easily written in terms of makeDataset:

readDataset[datafile_, headerfile_] := Module[{columns, columnLabels},
   columns = Transpose[Import[datafile]];
   columnLabels = First[Import[headerfile]];
   makeDataset[columns, columnLabels]
];