According to Chief Subomi Balogun, when he built his first house in life in Apapa, Dr. Alex Ekwueme was his neighbour.
Then the Civil War happened and Dr. Alex had to leave Lagos for the East.
Some miscreants took over Dr. Alex building but he (Chief Subomi) got the Police to come drive them out.
He renovated the building and rented it out and was collecting the rents.
When the war was over, Dr. Alex returned to Lagos and one day came to visit him.
And after exchanging pleasantries, Chief Subomi went inside and brought out a big envelope of money (they were doing mostly cash at that time) and handed it to Dr. Alex.
Chief Subomi told Dr. Alex that he renovated his house and rented it out, and the money in the envelope was all the rents he had collected and he was giving it to him as the rightful owner of the house.
Of course this left Dr. Alex amazed but he was grateful.
Years passed and the time came when he needed a banking license for FCMB.
It was unheard of that one individual says he single-handedly wants to establish a bank in Nigeria.
Someone in the CBN had told him they cannot give me a license because he didn’t have a technical partner. But he hoped to get a positive feedback from the CBN Deputy.
Then oneday, he and his wife resolved that they will find a way to bypass security and grab unto the hands of Dr. Alex (who was now the Vice President of Nigeria) and his wife after the Church Service.
And that’s exactly what they did though the security men tried to stop them.
When Dr. Alex saw them and called their names, of course the security had to let them be.
He didn’t waste time on pleasantries, he immediately told Dr. Alex what he wanted, banking license.
Dr. Alex told him to come see him with an assurance that by Thursday, he would have his license.
On the Thursday, he was called and congratulated that the VP said his license is approved, and that was how FCMB came alive.
Both men have now passed on (may their souls rest in peace) but their friendship and relationship across ethnic lines is a lesson for us to always be kind to one another.
Today, FCMB employs people from different tribes and religions in Nigeria.
I am a firm believer that the Nigerian strength is in her diversity.
Even in business, relationship is a capital.
So create it intentionally and use it wisely.
Sow good seeds in people’s lives regardless of tribe or religion.
You never know which of them will be your destiny helper (or that of your loved one) tomorrow.
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