Raheem Okoya, son of billionaire industrialist Rasaq Okoya, has dismissed claims that his growing music career and corporate success are built solely on family wealth, stressing that he works for his income and attracts independent investors.
The 22-year-old Executive Director of Eleganza Industries made this known during an interview with BBC News Yoruba, shared on Instagram on Tuesday, where he addressed public assumptions about privilege and entitlement.
“I work. I have a salary that I earn. I have investors. People believe in my music. They put money behind it,” he said.
Balancing leadership responsibilities at Eleganza with his passion for music, Okoya explained that his father deliberately raised his children to understand discipline, commitment, and self-reliance.
“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 added.
Despite heading one of Nigeria’s leading manufacturing companies at a young age, Okoya clarified that his rise was carefully planned, not sudden.
“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.
However, he admitted that his age often subjects him to intense scrutiny.
“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 noted.
The Isale Eko native also credited his upbringing for shaping his musical direction, recalling how Fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, frequently influenced his early exposure to music.
“K1 is a legend. He used to ring in the corridors of my house,” he said.
Beyond business and music, Okoya said his greatest ambition is to make his father proud.
“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.
He also criticised what he described as deliberate distortion of his image by sections of 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.
“They will take a little thing or completely change the narrative and perspective on me. It’s not nice. It’s painful.”
