Subomi Balogun: Lessons in Humility 

Kolapo Lawson

Everyone in the business world in Nigeria and thousands of others around the world knew who Otunba Subomi Balogun was. To all these people, he was a larger-than-life character, a titan! Many tributes have been written. Definitely countless tributes chronicling his achievements and impact on society will be written. However, I will focus on an aspect of his character that many would probably not have given much thought to: humility.

Humility is not a word often used to describe people who have achieved great things but in the case of Otunba Subomi Balogun I can say from personal experience that he possessed this virtue in a large measure. Humility does not diminish a man but it adds to his stature. This is because it wells from an inner acknowledgement that everything he is and everything he has achieved, was only possible through the Grace of One who is mightier than him and from Whom all blessings flow. This inner acknowledgement then births friendliness, kindness, consideration for others and a genuine love of one’s fellow men.

Humility is also inextricably linked to courage, a fact one becomes conscious of through genuine spiritual insight. A human being whose experiences engendered the knowledge and conviction that only the power of God is always at work will have the courage to serve, knowing that come what may, his unshakeable trust in the power of God allows him to fearlessly forge ahead. The German language provides a beautiful illustration of this fact by the construction of the word for humility: ‘Demut’, composed of the words ‘dienen’(to serve) and ‘Mut’ (courage).

Humility therefore means: ‘the courage to serve’. When Otunba Balogun got his universal banking licence and had to change the name of his bank from First City Merchant Bank, he replaced the word ‘Merchant’ with ‘Monument’. His explanation at the time? He wished to build a Monument to the Glory of God. Any wonder then that his endeavour was a great success? My first encounter that I recall having with Otunba Subomi Balogun was sometime in 1978.

My departed father’s pioneering real estate project, Agbara Estate on Lagos-Badagry Expressway had just emerged from nearly two years of negotiations with the Ogun State Military Government after the whole estate was compulsorily acquired without notice or compensation. The negotiations resulted in a workable solution, which made it possible for the development of the estate to continue. Subsequently my father put me in charge of the development company. He directed me to create and execute a viable business plan.

Unknown to me, Otunba Subomi Balogun (who was running City Securities Limited at the time) had been following the developments. One day, he left his office at Primrose Towers on Lagos Island and turned up in my little office on Marine Road Apapa and asked me how he could be of help. I was deeply touched by that experience of a highly respected business leader visiting a young man in his twenties to offer help! If that is not humility then I do not know what is! In the following years, there were several occasions in which I faced seemingly insoluble crisis and I would pick up the phone to call Otunba Sumobi Balogun. He would immediately invite me over for a discussion. On some occasions, he was able to help directly.

Whenever he could not assist, I always left his office feeling lighter, relieved and encouraged after my discussions with him. He did not show any sense of being disturbed at short notice requests to see him either at home or in the office. My wife and I also enjoyed his great hospitality at the Ijebu-Ode home. He played a very prominent role at the wedding of our son to the daughter of his cousin, Olorogun (Dr.) Sonny Kuku. He loved to share his joy of life. The last encounter I had with him was in his suite at the Burj al Arab (a 7-star hotel) in Dubai. As usual, he was very gracious and charming. On that occasion, he revealed his humility again. Quite out of the blues, he expressed his gratitude to the Creator for all the blessings he had received in his life.

He said: “I do not need anything else in life. I only pray that the Lord grants me a healthy old age, maybe up to 90 years.” Well, the Lord answered his prayers. By all accounts, he was healthy to the end and though he had not yet celebrated his 90th birthday, he was called away in his 90th year. May we all learn to emulate his exemplary humility. May the Grace of the Lord continue to guide him as he proceeds on his journey towards the lighter and more joyful planes of God’s wonderful Creation. On his continuing journey may he further experience the truth of this statement: “The knowledge of Creation, spiritual knowledge, is the real purport of all life!” Amen! Excerpt from In the Light of Truth Abd-ru-shin 

Lawson was Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated from 2009-2014.