Raheem Okoya wants the world to know one thing clearly he is not coasting on his father’s billions.
The 22-year-old Executive Director of Eleganza Industries, and son of renowned industrialist Rasaq Okoya, pushed back firmly against assumptions that his privileged surname has handed him everything, revealing in a BBC News Yoruba interview shared on Instagram Tuesday that he draws a salary and has attracted independent investors for his music career
“I work. I have a salary that I earn. I have investors. People believe in my music. They put money behind it,” he said.
The declaration comes as Okoya navigates a dual life — one foot planted in corporate Nigeria at the helm of one of the country’s most recognisable industrial brands, and the other planted firmly in the music world. He credits the balance largely to the values instilled by his father, who famously built the Eleganza empire from nothing.
“My dad wasn’t born rich. He tries to instil those values in his kids. He wants his kids to also be able to work and build a fortune rather than just spend and destroy,” Raheem said.
His appointment as Executive Director at 22 may raise eyebrows, but Raheem insists it is the result of nearly ten years of deliberate grooming, not nepotism on a whim.
“I’ve been learning this position my whole life. From when I was in school, I’ve been shadowing my dad. It’s not an overnight thing. It’s been 10 years in the making,” he explained.
Still, youth remains his most persistent battle in the boardroom. “It’s definitely challenging. It’s a heavy responsibility. People already look at you. You’re young. They already want to doubt you. You always have to prove that you know what you’re talking about,” he said candidly.
Beyond business, Raheem spoke about the musical roots that shaped him, recalling how Fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal — K1 De Ultimate — was a constant presence in his childhood home in Isale Eko. “K1 is a legend. He used to ring in the corridors of my house,” he said.
At the heart of all his ambition, though, lies something deeply personal. “I love my dad so much. He’s my number one hero, my mentor. I just hope I can really, really make him proud one day,” he said.
Raheem also took direct aim at media coverage he described as distorted and unfair. “I don’t like fake news. I hate fake news. It cuts in my head. The media likes to put me up as a villain. They know what gets people riled up and moving. It’s not always the truth,” he said, adding, “They will take a little thing or completely change the narrative and perspective on me. It’s not nice. It’s painful.”
The young executive made waves earlier in January when he announced plans for an exclusive, members-only bowling club with annual membership priced at $5,000.
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