Happiness not about bank accounts
Mobolaji Bank-Anthony begot Tunde and Tunde begot Tunde (Jnr.). But that is not all about the life of Tunde Bank-Anthony, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund whose philanthropism and care-for-the-next person disposition were inspired by his late maternal grandmother. He is our role model this week.

Coming from a famous family, how much has that contributed to your personal success?

Tunde Bank-Anthony Jnr.

Yes, it has but I am a very outgoing person.  I am somebody who always want to collate ideas  and makes things happen.  I am somebody who always want to share from what I have to bring happiness to others.

My maternal grandmum, Alhaja Aishat Tokosi imparted that in me. During Christmas and Ileya festivals, she would package things to people even across the neighbourhood.  Even outside the festival periods, she would send bread, beverages to people.

She always wanted people around her to be happy. If I told her I didn’t want to eat, she would go the extra mile to make something different from the usual just for me to eat. She could not leave us to go on holy pilgrimage to Mecca.  She only did the year my mum returned from England.  I love my children but I want to show as much love I had for my grand-mum to them.  So, when my mother returned from England, she felt I was over pampered.

But I was able to balance the upbringing which I had from grandma with the realities of life.   She had a major influence on me.

What lessons did growing up teach you?

I was born into the Bank Anthony Tokosi family of Lagos.  I grew up with my grand mother, Alhaja Aisha Tokosi popularly known in those days as Iya Eleran at Sangros Market. My parents then were in abroad.  My grandmum who was a trader did a lot for me so much that I did not miss anything while my parents were away. My grand parents were fantastic people and without my parents being around, they were there for me.

They made sure we had the best while growing up. I really did not miss my parents. Every day of my life I remember her. If I want to wear my shoes, my clothes, even eating, I remember her.  Inspite of the fact that she was not literate, she did so much for me including my grand pa.  She would check my nails all the time and ensured they were neat; my clothing, my shoes were in order. She was a devout Muslim while my grand pa and father were not.

But she inspired me greatly that I will remain a Muslim.  She had a very strong influence on me. So, some of these lessons I have passed on to my children. I married early just because of her and I named my first and second daughters after her.

And your mother did not feel jealous about this?

Oh, she did, but she liked it. She was proud of her mum. My mother was her only surviving child.  I love my parents, but my grandma did not just make me miss anybody. I was adequately cared for. She cared for me and she pampered me.

If she was alive today, she would still be pampering me. The difference between the two was that at the time I was a little boy, she would make sure I did the right thing at the right time. At a particular age when you  moved to the next level of development, she would pamper you with things you would need to grow into adulthood.  I remember she bought newspapers and kept some newspaper cuttings on the Western Region crisis for me.

She would tell me the shortcomings and the down sides of life.  All these I have learned from her. I do that for my children as well. I look at the way my children dress before they go out; look at their shoes, their nails and advise them. Even at night, I make sure they are well prepared for the following day before they go to bed. They shine and tie their shoes with guidance and constant monitoring.

Giving back to the society

I want to be humble, I don’t want to start mentioning that now.  I have assisted some younger ones in their educational pursuit, in mentoring, in helping them to chart through their dreams.

So, my belief is that happiness  is not about how big you are or the size of your bank accounts but what you are able to do to make others happy and of course live a better life.

My grandmother was known for putting smiles on the faces of people and I have taken after that value, because come to think of it, nothing gives happiness than what you do to make some people happy.
Choosing a career

Mobolaji Bank Anthony is a personality that is larger than life.  He was respected.  He had good relationship with the government and its agencies but he was never a politician.  He was very hardworking, classy and stylish. He was a complete gentleman, an active Boy’s Scout in his days with the Agbajes, TOS Benson and others.  He was so pragmatic that you could not even ask him for a car.  He would tell you what have you done to get a car, a strict disciplinarian who believed in hard work.

But he was never a politician.  I am the first Bank Anthony to venture into politics and this was because of the interest I showed when I was in elementary school.  My grandma recognised that and kept buying things related to that career for me. She exposed me to news and events in the society.  I became highly involved in my society.   This was also encouraged by my father who was very close to some of the  government officials and ministers.

The business of his forbearers
My family is renowned for coffin making. We had a coffin business abroad, we had at Igbosere, Lagos even my great grandfather was a coffin maker. People sometimes now expect you to tow the same line.  I worked there when I was younger. I was once a carpenter in the casket business. I did it for some time at the new Champion House, Mark 4, in Oshodi Isolo. But all of us can not be in  the business.

I thank God that one of my cousins, Dehinde of  Ebony Casket is into the business. Dehinde’s mother was a Bank-Anthony.  For me, right from my elementary days, I have been motivated to serve people and affect people’s lives.  This is what inspired me into taking a different position.

About youth and values for success
Don’t be pulled back by problems, they are part of life.  Nothing scares me in life, I tell the younger ones that consistency in what you do is the way to success.  If you believe in a cause, pursue it logically, don’t be swayed by the problems and constraints on your path.

Life is all about encountering problems. Sometimes, ago, I was to work with the Minister of Works, Dr. Obafemi Anibaba, I got a letter appointing me and a letter sacking, and another letter re-appointing me within a month. I don’t allow anything to weigh me down to do want I want to do.