SUBOMI BALOGUN.... Exit of A Collosus Banker , Philantropist & Man of Impeccable Taste

" When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men". - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

By Mike Cerutti Osagie

• A Collosus can be defined as : a statue of gigantic size and proportions. Or  a person or thing of immense size or power.

Such is no doubt how one can vividly describe the recently passed away Otunba

Michael Olasubomi "Subomi" Balogun ,the huge  banker and philanthropist who founded First City Merchant Bank, a company that later became the FCMB group and  a long time member of the council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

It has been a very breezy week of activities marking the passage of the late founder of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Subomi Balogun who will be buried on tommorow July 8, 2023 

Balogun died at the age of 89 in London, United Kingdom on May 18.

The  grand burial rites began on July 4 with a night of tributes  at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

On July 5, a service of songs was  held at 3:30 pm. At 5 pm same  at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The business mogul’s body will lied in state on July 6 from 7 am to 8 am at 1, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

A commendation service took place same day at 9:30 am at Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. The day’s event will be rounded off with another lying in state, this time in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.

On July 7, Balogun’s body will continue lying in state from 10 am to 1 pm at Otunba Tunwase Court in Ijebu Ode. At 3:30 pm, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ijebu chapter will oversee a service of songs at Otunba Tunwase Court. A wake will be held at the same venue at 4:30 pm.

Funeral service will kick off at 10 am on July 8 at Cathedral Church of Our Saviour in Ijebu Ode. A private family interment will hold at 1 pm. At 1:30 pm, guests will be received at Otunba Tunwase Court.

Balogun was the ‘olori ebi’ and head of all the princes at the Arojojoye Ruling House in Ijebu Ode.

He held several revered traditional and cultural titles. They include Otunba Tunwase, the Olori Omo-Oba of Ijebu, Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians, Baba Oba of Ijebu-Ife, Asalu-Oba of Ijebu Mushin and many others.

• Meanwhile  at the Harbour Point Event Center in Lagos during the  service of Songs for the late business mogul Subomi Balogun which was  officiated by Archbishop Yemi Fatade, the congregation were charged to reflect about God’s purpose for every mortal on earth.

 “We are created to fulfill God’s purpose. Time is period which things happen. There is time for everything on earth and God gave us time to fulfill his purpose on earth,” he said.

The cleric said Balogun understood the purpose of his existence early and fulfilled it.

After the sermon, former governor of Ogun State Senator Gbenga Daniel read the tribute sent by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

The service ended with a vote of thanks by Jide Balogun.

In attendance were former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and wife, Justice Olusola Oguntade, Bamidele Abiodun, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Femi Otedola, Rasaq Okoya and Sade Okoya, Tajudeen Okoya, Bimbo Ashiru, Prof. Toyin Ashiru, Olu Okeowo and wife, Ronke Shokefun, Toyin Saraki, Olorogun Sonny Kuku, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Jim Ovia and Tope Obasanjo among others.

Otunba Subomi Balogun, what a great Collosus.. A heavy philantropist and a man of Impeccable Taste

RIP ! 

• Osagie , a professional wordsmith & humanitarian sent this piece from his Lagos Base

He can be contacted via: chiefcerrutti@gmail.com