Alhaji Saro was no doubt an astute businessman. However, beyond that he was a great man whose kindness, humility and generosity overshadowed and even surpassed his business acumen.
He achieved success early and way back in the 1980’s he
was the second largest importer of sugar into Nigeria. When the terrain became
too hostile, he diversified into property development where his achievements
were superlative.
At every opportunity, he would remind me that when he
was only a little lad, it was his mother who took him to one of the most
successful businessmen of the time, the late Alhaji Ajao for prayers so that he
too would become rich. The evidence is there for all to see as confirmation
that the prayers worked and his mother lived long enough to witness the
phenomenal success of her beloved son.
Alhaji was a silent but profoundly generous
philanthropist. Although he was a very devout Muslim, he held closely to his
Christian friends and associates. He and I enjoyed a private joke – namely,
before the telecommunication giants emerged on the scene, the Almighty himself
had his own unique way of sending credit alert to the faithful. Hence, whenever
we met, the first question he would ask was:
“JK, have you received your alert” and he would
immediately burst into laughter.
May the Almighty welcome him to his bosom and shower
his abundant blessings on the entire family along with the fortitude to bear
the irreparable loss.
- Bashorun J.K. Randle
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