Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, joined President Bola Tinubu; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd); Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; and other eminent Nigerians to attend the funeral service of the founder of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Micheal Olasubomi Balogun.
The Holy Communion Service, held at The Cathedral Church Of Our Saviour, Italawajoda, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, was presided over by the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos/Bishop of Remo Diocese, The Most Revd. (Dr.) Micheal Olusina Fape, and assisted by the Diocesan Bishop of Ijebu, The Rt. Revd. (Dr.) Peter Rotimi Oludipe.
The funeral service was also attended by Presdiential Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, Mr. Wale Edun; former Governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State), and Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State); business moguls, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Femi Otedola and Chief Rasak Okoya; President of the African Development Bank, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Opadokun.
Former and present public office holders, politicians, captains of industry, bank executives, bishops, priests, traditional rulers and leaders, family and friends of the deceased home and abroad, management and staff of FCMB and people of Ijebuland, as well as sons and daughters of Ogun State, also attended the funeral service to bid Balogun farewell.
President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Balogun was an extraordinary individual who changed the course of history in Nigeria and the world.
He said: “We give gratitude to Almighty God for bringing Otunba Subomi Balogun to the world. The world is going to remain grateful to him (Balogun) even much longer than he lived. So, we are here to celebrate life.
“He is an extraordinary individual who changed the course of history. May his legacy continue to inspire generations to come. We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
Sanwo-Olu described Balogun as a renowned technocrat, seasoned administrator and philanthropist, who made a mark in the country by contributing to the growth and development of the banking sector in Nigeria.
In a condolence message earlier by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu commended Balogun’s contribution to the economy of Nigeria as boardroom guru and employer of labour, especially as the founder of FCMB, among several other companies.
In his address during the funeral service, Abiodun said the late founder of FCMB is a proud son of Ijebuland and Ogun State, noting that he is a “colossus of our time”.
He said Balogun was a big philanthropist who loved and served God, adding that the deceased lived a fulfilled life with a good legacy.
In his sermon entitled, “The righteous would be separated from the wicked on the Judgement Day”, Most Revd Fape urged people to live a righteous life and impact their communities, states and nations positively.
He described the late Balogun as a friend of the church, who contributed positively to the Church. He, therefore urged the family of the deceased not to allow Balogun’s name to go into oblivion.
Balogun, who was the Olori Omoba of Ijebuland and the Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians, passed on at the age of 89 in London, England on Friday, 18th May.
