Dare Babalola
Raheem Okoya, son of billionaire industrialist Rasaq Okoya, has revealed that he earns a salary and has secured independent investors for his music career.
The 22-year-old Executive Director of Eleganza Industries during an interview with BBC News Yoruba posted via Instagram on Tuesday, declared that he is not riding on his father’s wealth.
He rubbished the perception that his position and lifestyle are simply handed to him by virtue of his father’s name and fortune.
“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 young Okoya, who is balancing music with corporate duties, credits his billionaire dad, Rasaq, for instilling a strong work ethic in him and his siblings.
He stated that his father, who built the Eleganza empire from scratch, made sure they understood that success doesn’t come easy.
“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,” he said.
Leading one of Nigeria’s most recognised industrial brands at just 22, Okoya said the appointment was not spontaneous, describing it as the product of nearly a decade of quiet preparation.
“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 said.
He admitted, however, that his age remains a hurdle he constantly has to clear in the eyes of those around him.
“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.
The Isale Eko-born executive also spoke warmly about the musical environment he grew up in, crediting his upbringing for shaping his sound and his drive. He described Fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, K1 De Ultimate, as a constant presence in his childhood home.
“K1 is a legend. He used to ring in the corridors of my house,” he said.
Beneath the business ambition and the music, however, Okoya said his most personal motivation remains proving himself to the man he admires most.
“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.
The young executive also used the interview to call out what he described as a deliberate pattern of misrepresentation by the media.
“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.
He added, “They will take a little thing or completely change the narrative and perspective on me. It’s not nice. It’s painful.”
