The Architect of the Tower and Truth: Celebrating Rev Gbade Alabi at 78

There are very few men who successfully build both towering physical skyscrapers and enduring spiritual legacies. In a world where corporate success often drowns out the quiet call of faith, Rev. Gbade Alabi, the visionary Founder and Chairman of the CBC EMEA Group, stands as a profound exception.

Today, as this quintessential tech pioneer, astute businessman, and silent kingdom financier celebrates his 78th birthday, it is time to publicly honor a man who has spent his life working quietly behind the scenes.

Rev. Alabi is a man who understands a fundamental, yet often forgotten, truth: true wealth is merely a tool for the Kingdom of God. He is the ultimate architect—a man who proved to a generation that a computer guru and corporate titan can simultaneously be a dedicated fisher of men.

The Pioneer of the Lekki Skyline and African Tech
For over three decades, Rev. Alabi has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s Information Technology revolution. Birthed from his vision, the CBC EMEA Group evolved into a multinational IT conglomerate. But perhaps the most visible testament to his uncompromising work ethic is the ‘CBC Towers’, standing majestically in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

To build one of the most prominent towers in Lekki by his “sole sweat” is no small feat. No shortcuts were taken; no favors were bought. It was erected through sheer grit, intellectual brilliance, and the battles of a man who understands systems, structures, and code. Yet, despite his massive success in the city of glass and stone, he remains incredibly down-to-earth, hating the vain noise and public boasting that often accompany wealth.

The Silent Philanthropist and Kingdom Financier
What truly separates Rev. Alabi from his contemporaries is what he does in the dark. While many build empires for personal glory, he simultaneously sponsors the quiet growth of ministers in the seminary. He is a silent donor, funding the education and spiritual equipping of the shepherds who will guard the Lord’s sheep.

God can trust a man with millions only when that man has trusted God with his soul. Rev. Alabi’s life is a living testament to this principle. Though he walks the corridors of high-level corporate trade, his ears are always tuned to the low whisper of the poor man’s cry.

In honor of his 78th birthday, I dedicate this poetic tribute to a destiny helper, a lover of the soil, and a pillar of the Christian faith:

THE ARCHITECT OF THE TOWER AND THE TRUTH
(A Poetic Tribute to Rev. Gbade Alabi)

The Silent Foundation
He builds in the silence, away from the crowd,
For the greatest of spirits are never too loud.
An ardent believer, a soldier of Christ,
Who knows that the Savior has already sufficed.
A silent donor who sows in the dark,
To light in the seeker a heavenly spark.
From the halls of the seminary, sacred and deep,
He sponsors the shepherds who guard the Lord’s sheep.

The Tower of Sweat and Soul
Look up at the skyline where the clouds meet the sun,
See the ‘CBC EMEA’ and the work he has done.
The tallest of towers on the Lekki shore,
A world-class village with an open door.
No shortcuts were taken, no favor was bought,
It was birthed by the sweat and the battles he fought.
A guru of systems, a master of code,
Who carried the weight of a heavy, long road.

The Destiny Helper
I have walked in his shadow, I have worked by his side,
I have seen the great wisdom he never could hide.
A true businessman with a heart for the trade,
Who stands by the promises that he has made.
Down to earth in his spirit, though his tower is high,
He hears the low whisper of the poor man’s cry.
He hates the vain noise that the boasters will make,
He gives for the heart and for the Kingdom’s sake.

The Lover of the Soil
Though he sits in the city of glass and of stone,
He never has left his hometown alone.
The love of his origin, the roots of his birth,
Are to him the most precious of things on this earth.
A destiny helper, a pillar, a friend,
On whose word and whose honor you can always depend.
May the tower he built stand as long as the sun,
As a witness to all of the good he has done.

78 Cheers to a General of the Faith
Rev. Gbade Alabi, at 78, you remain an unshakeable pillar to your family, your community, your corporate empire, and the body of Christ. Your roots remain as precious to you today as they were when you first began this incredible journey.

May the towers you have built—both the physical skyscrapers in Lekki and the spiritual giants you have funded in the seminaries—stand the test of time.

Happy 78th Birthday to the Ultimate Architect, the visionary of CBC EMEA, and a true General of the faith!

David Alani Ige
Institutional Archivist & Public Affairs Commentator
Phunshor01@gmail.com
Igboho, Oyo state.