By Tunde Olufowora
Today, we celebrate once again, the beautiful impactful & meritorious life of our own “Baba”, an erudite and great entrepreneur banker of our time, an outstanding personality, a man with an impeccable character and penchant for excellence.
One of the key lessons I learnt from Baba in my 16years of meritorious service in FCMB was how to face life with courage and fight to win in the days of battle.
Otunba remains one of the most courageous man I ever knew in my life. I still recall vividly all that we went through during the “Comfort Inyang” saga – a battle I will never wish even an enemy, that raged on for closed to 5 years and shook the bank to its very root!
It was a test of the Founder’s impeccable character and nature – a test of his resilience, courage and determination to always succeed in life no.matter what; It was indeed a test of what kind of foundation the bank was built upon.
And it reminded me of what the bible says: ” *Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss…” (1 Cor 3:13-15)*
Little wonder then that FCMB has remained the only surviving privately owned bank in Nigeria that started out then as a merchant bank through one man’s vision and cheer determination; and it is still waxing stronger and moving on under its same trade name. Every other one that I knew then have been swallowed up and some consumed by fire that tested them!!!
Let us all make a toast therefore unto this great visionary of our time.
I say: 87 HEARTY CHEERS to the renown Entrepreneur Banker, the Doyen of the Nigerian Banking Industry, an Icon of Excellence and a true Role Model to many generations. Hurray!!!
I am grateful to have passed through your portal and to have been personally modelled by you Sir.
I wish you many more joyful years ahead as it pleases you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Happy Birthday Sir!
*Tunde Olufowora, Group Head, Corporate Communications, FCMB (1997 – 2013)*
