METROGIST: Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The founder and Chairman of the FIRST CITY FINANCIAL GROUP, Otunba Subomi Balogun,GCON, attained the age of 75 recently. to celebrate the man who singlehandedly built of one Africa's biggest financial institution, an elaborate society party was put together in his honour. The event for Balogun's 75th birthday started with a well-attended book launch on Thur March 5th, at the Muson Centre in Lagos while the second phase started with an inspiring church service at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina which was followed immediately by a colourful reception at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, all on Monday 9th March, 2009..The celebrant is one of the few Nigerian elites who have touched so many lives with their various acts of philantropy. When he clocked 70 in 2004, he donated a multimillion Naira Paediatric centre purposely built to offer free medicare to children and the less privileged in the society. This probably accounts for why there was a massive turn-out of distinguished Nigerians and eminent personalities at his 75th birthday yesterday..Below are the pictures of some of the guests at the event as captured by SOLA FOLOWOSELE.

(above)The celebrant, OTUNBA SUBOMI BALOGUN,GCON & his wife, Olori Abimbola

( above) Ladi Balogun & his wife, Banke..(Ladi is no 3 of the four all-boys children of the celebrant. He is the Managing Director of FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK, FCMB, a subsidiary of his father's FIRST CITY GROUP)

(above) Bolaji Balogun & his wife, Kemi.(Bolaji is the first born of the celebrant. He is also a topshot within his dad's FIRST CITY GROUP)

(above) This is gangling Jide Balogun & his wife, Uche( Jide, number 2 in the family, also calls the shots at The First City Group. Uche is the daughter of Asaba-born business mogul, Chief Sony Odogwu. She has two sons already for Jide) (above) This is Gboyega Balogun and his charming wife, Emma..Gboyega is the youngest of the Balogun boys..He also occupies a strategic position at the FCG HQ)

( Above) One of the two magnifient cakes for the event

(Above) MC of the event, Abuja-based Mrs Dayo Benjamin-Lawuyi, she did a great job at the event

(above) Funke Bucknor-Obrothe of ZAPPHIRE EVENTS (standing left) at the event admiring the work of her hand..Her firm handled the planning of the event including the massive decoration at the foreground, the supply of usherettes & other aspects. For doing just that, heavily pregnant Funke got a princely sum N5million Naira for herself.

(above) The ever-glamourous OKOYA couple, 70-year old Razak & 31-year old Shade..(He is the Chairman of the gigantic Eleganza Group while She is the Deputy Managing Director of Eleganza Fashion & Beauty Products, all based in Lagos Nigeria..They' ve been together as a couple for the past 10 years and they have 4 lovely kids (2 boys, 2 girls) together.

(above) The celebrant with Ex-Nigeria's Minster of Health, Prof. Adenike Grange..(the internationally recognized Paediatrician who lost her Ministerial appointment over an alleged N300million scam in her then Ministy of Health in Abuja, was recently appointed by Otunba Subomi Balogun as the new Head of his National Paediatric Centre, Ijebu., Ogun State Nigeria.

(above) Afenifere & NADECO veteran, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, still looking handsome and fresh at 81

(above) Former Head of State,Gen Yakubu Gowon(left) & The Alake of Egbaland,Oba Adedotun Gbadebo during the church service..In Nigeria, Kings and Bishops are permitted to wear their caps in the Church, others can't try it.

(above) (R-L) Uche Jide-Balogun,Lagos fashion designer, Folake Folarin-Coker of Tiffany Amber fame, with their friends Dolores Hart, & Yvonne Aleyideino

(above) Lagos High Society woman,Chief (Mrs) Joko Oni(right) and her sister..(when Joko Oni's son Niyi got married on 21st February,2009, Otunba Subomi Balogun was the Father of the day)

(above) The hardworking Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola(middle) flanked by The Alake of Egbalaend, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo(left) & the celebrant(right)