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Details Of The Classy Burial In LAGOS & IJEBU-ODE
This is the story of the classy burial of one of the most successful bankers Nigeria has ever produced. It is the story of how Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun the founder of FCMB planned his burial and his family made sure it happened according to how he wanted it done.
For instance, did you know that late Otunba Subomi Balogun, had planned the way his burial will be done many years ago? Did you know that he had built the Mausoleum where he would be buried many years ago? Did you also know that he told his family exactly what he wanted, and how he would love to be buried inside his Ijebu Ode community home right beside his mum the late Iye Subumi, who died several years ago?
City People can confirm all these to you authoritatively. City People gathered that the Group Chairman of First City Group Limited had a premonition of death. But he was not the least perturbed going by the meticulous arrangement he had put in place for his own burial.
The burial reeked of class and high quality. Everyone looked out for his Casket. Of course, it was a beautiful new metallic chrome silver casket which was customised specially for Otunba Subomi Balogun. It is a casket which cost about $8,000 dollars, approximately N10 million. Some sources have put the landing fee of the coffin at N15 million. It is an American casket with an ultimate statement. It comes stocked with plush white interior, as standard and bespoke patterned interiors.
That is vintage Otunba Balogun for you. He lived a good life. And he loved it. He loved Rolls Royce limousines. He had 11 white Rolls Royce. That is the only car he rides in London. He built an AC garage for his Limousine in his Lagos home. Everything about his burial showed that Subomi Balogun had meticulously planned it himself. In his lifetime he updates his collection of Rolls Royce every 4 years.
Before his death, City People gathered that Otunba Subomi Balogun had picked all his favourite hymns. His wife and children know the Hyms Otunba Subomi loved. No wonder all the hymns sang at the various services held in his honour were those he liked. The high quality brochure at the Order of Commendation Service held on Thursday and the one at the Night of Trubutes were made to perfection, reflective of Otunba’s taste.
That was why the following Hymns were picked. They are Hyms like Christ is Our Cornerstone, On Him Alone We Build; Sing Alleluia, On Him Alone We Build; Sing Alleluia Forth in Duteous Praise; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; When Peace Like A River, I Know That My Redeemer Lives; O God Our Help In Ages Past; Rock of Ages Cleft For Me; Through the Love of God Our Saviour; Hallelujah Chorus From Handel; including the Withdrawal Hymn: Blessed Loves.
How about his WILL? City People learnt that Otunba had meticulously done his WILL to favour his widow, children, grand children, his extended family and some Ijebu organisations. The Church also benefitted from it.
In his lifetime, he supported church work. He was the one in charge of Anglican robes for top Reverends and Bishops of the Anglican Church. Unknown to many he was one of the great financiers of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina and Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Italowajoda, Ijebu Ode. One of his unfulfilled pledges was all the doors and Chandeliers he promised the Cathedral Church in Lagos. But all that will now be done by his children. They have agreed to get it done.
Tuesday 4th July, 2023 marked the beginning of the rite of passage scheduled for the burial of this great man, who died on May 18th, 2023 at 89.
It was a week-long event which began with a Night of Tributes which saw the crème-de-la-crème in the society storm Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island Lagos to honour the departed whom many referred to as the grand master of modern banking industry in Nigeria. The planning was superb. The decoration of Eko Hotel was heavenly. It was the type of decoration Otunba would love.
The flow of the event was anchored by the trio of veteran broadcaster; Bimbo Oloyede, ace broadcaster Remi Adetayo and businessman; Dele Balogun.
It was indeed a Night of Tributes which saw a large pool of MDs/CEOs in attendance. It was an evening where they all gathered to celebrate with the family and staff of late Otunba Subomi Balogun over a life well spent by their patriarch and boss.
Many of them spoke glowingly about his legacies and how he had impacted them and by extension added value to humanity. Notable among those who gave tributes are the likes of former deputy governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro; Group Head FCMB, Chief Ladi Jadesinmi;
Boardroom guru, Ms Bennedikter Molokwu; founder of GTBank Plc., Mr. Fola Adeola; founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc., Mr. Atedo Peterside; Mrs. Bola Adesola; first son of the deceased and CEO FCMB Group Plc., Ladi Balogun; Co-founder of Eko Hospitals, Olorogun Dr. Sanni Folorunsho Kuku and renowned televangelist, Pastor Paul Adefarasin. Some of the former bankers who attend had passed through FCMB in their young years.
Two documentaries were however played as a form of interlude. One was a brief X-Ray into the life and times of Otunba Subomi while the other one was series tributes form FCMB Alumni where some of them took time to eulogize their former boss. They spoke on how working with him at FCMB made them great in life.
The grand-children of late Otunba Subomi Balogun were not left out, they also came out to make tributes about their beloved grandpa and what they would miss about him.
Popular singer, Ifunanya Anekwe, fondly called Ifunanya Soprano dazzled on stage as she entertained the audience with her ever powerful voice. She indeed pulled a thrilling but classic performance.
Towards the end of the programme, Gboyega Balogun, son of the deceased, on behalf of the Balogun family announced other events scheduled for the funeral of their beloved father which are to be held in Lagos and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
On Wednesday 5th July, 2023, there was a Service of Songs and Christian Wake for him in Lagos. The next day Thursday 6th July, 2023 was the Lying in State and Commendation Service also held in Lagos. There was another Service of Songs and Christian Wake in his country home in Ijebu-Ode on Friday 7th July, 2023 while a Funeral Service and Reception would be held on Saturday 8th July, 2023. The Outing Service and Thanksgiving Service would be held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and Marina, Lagos.
Otunba Subomi Balogun was a man who lived a fulfilled life. The Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) national merit award recipient was a trailblazer and epitome of excellence who stood out in all spheres of his endeavours.
Before his death, he was the Otunba Tunwase, the Olori Omooba of Ijebu, the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ijebu, the Baba of Ijebu-Ife and the Asiwaju Oba of Ijebu – Imushin, the Commander of the Order of the Niger; an acknowledged Baron of the Nigerian Capital and Money Markets; Doyen, Pioneer and Role Model of entrepreneurial banking in Nigeria; a constructive philanthropist who had devoted substantial part of his private resources towards the care and service of the less privileged in his immediate community and Nigeria. A lover of children, author, opinion leader and a respected community leader.
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