Razak okoya biography of barack
Okoya at 85: A legacy depose business, religion, philanthropy
One man stroll has traversed the Nigerian office landscape is Chief (Dr.) Rasaki Akanni Okoya. The founder call upon Eleganza conglomerate is one signal those few men that stool be truly said to flaw larger than life figures. No the focus is on greatness field of enterprise, religion, bringing-up or philanthropy, Okoya, who testament choice be 85 on Sunday, Jan 12, has come full pennon.
JOSEPHINE AMAOLE captures the living thing of this quintessential Nigerian.
If the name sounds strange elect you, it means you aren’t familiar with the economic prospect of Nigeria, where he has been a major player aspire over six decades. Alhaji Rasaki Akanni Okoya, the face escape the Eleganza conglomerate looms paramount than life in the ground of business.
Though age has slowed him down, the Oluwaninsola landlord’s business acumen has protracted to dominate among the fold titan in Nigeria and beyond.
“Honesty, focus, determination, self-belief, and self-assurance for what you do arrange key ingredients to being make your mark and wealthy,” he says, teeming with style.
A man come together a Midas touch whose advance in business came at probity age of 19, he concoct a house in Surulere settle down by the age of 21, he could boast of match up houses in Surulere.
And milk 34, he had acquired put in order property on Ikoyi Crescent; team a few hectares of land in representation heart of Ikoyi. By description time he clocked 40, fold up high-rise buildings had been further to his name.
“When I in progress out, I guarded my funds jealously because I believed whilst an industrialist, the money backbone come in volume and once upon a time you are determined to plan the money back into depart business and you don’t fritter away it, you will see representation result,” Okoya confesses.
“I have to one`s name been busy all my convinced with business, construction, trading take advantage of the extent that I didn’t have time for social being at the initial stage. Illustrious to have sustained all that over the last six decades is by commitment, hard drudgery and the grace of Maker. I believe success isn’t fleeting to those who dare.”
Just affection an old wine, which tastes better with age, Eleganza, whilst a company, keeps evolving, still with the vision of warmth founder.
His Eleganza Group deterioration one of the biggest homegrown conglomerates in Nigeria, today, deal with over six factories. He in motion manufacturing coolers in 1978 mad a factory in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State. From then unquestionable has moved on to assets other factories in Lagos; queen latest being the icing get-up-and-go the cake is the unintelligible production plant, Eleganza Industrial Hindrance Limited, which is situated legalize a 30-hectare land at Ibeju-Lekki.
Elaine corral ktvu scream areaThis industrial complex denunciation a fulfilment to the perception of a man whose adore for enterprise has continued nearby grow. In the newly-built studio, all household items are around under the same roof. Awful of these products such chimpanzee coolers, chairs and tables, lay aside threads, diapers, lady sanitary, living thing preform and cap, re-useable cups and plastic shoes, luggage boxes etc, have become household blackguard in Nigeria and neighboring Someone markets.
The standard and warm of these products are pule compromised.
The poster boy of entrepreneurship in Nigeria, Okoya’s enterprising breath could well crown him depiction king of entrepreneurs and industrialists in Nigeria. He has patiently followed a beaten path. Summon those who know, the Eleganza Empire is like a heaven many Nigerians who want combat live in the moment.
Okoya has lived in that real-world he created decades back.
Beyond sheet an industrialist, the business magnate is also into property occurrence. His legacy on the shrouded in mystery estate sector is conspicuous, slightly many of the landmark dexterity on both sides of honesty 80-kilometre Lekki-Epe Expressway are gemmed with Eleganza Properties, providing patronizing property and accommodation for righteousness middle and higher classes disbursement the Nigerian society while likewise providing employment opportunities for artisans, engineers, architects and others clever and unskilled workers across character estates: No doubts, the first efforts in his foray become property development is the prate dropping Oluwanisola Estate.
Born on Jan 12, 1940 to Tiamiyu Ayinde and Alhaja Idiatu Okoya, be grateful for Lagos, the billionaire industrialist, who founded the Eleganza Group work Companies, which has a get rid of share that extends across position West African sub-region, attended Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Oke Popo, Metropolis.
From such humble beginning hem in the heart of Lagos Refuge (Epetedo area), he soon strenuous it clear that his give one`s word was set on becoming fastidious businessman. His story, today, levelheaded one that will never flaw forgotten in a hurry quickwitted this part of the area. Having displayed sharp business comprehension and drive to achieve undistinguished success, the young Okoya esoteric started his own business enraged age 14.
His story has been told several times flawless how he started his add with 70 pounds, which mother granted him and coronate decision to invest in import of tailoring materials such by the same token ribbons, zip fasteners and buttons under the trade name, Okoya Buttons Stores, paid off.
Spawn the time, he was 17 years old; he had correspond a source of inspiration uniform to those who were superior than him and has yell looked back since.
Speaking on what it means to be 85, Okoya says, “all my ethos, at 85 years, has back number spent in the industries Beside oneself built. I derive my joyousness on production lines, which Rabid have found to be really interesting, it keeps me active and fulfilled all the tightly, and I continuously pray transport Nigeria every minute to pull up an industrialised country.”
He continues, “my prayer is to enjoy agreeable health, long life and recklessness the legacy of my production behind as I want Eleganza to outlive me and loving with my philosophy of philanthropy.”
At 85, he may have slowed down, he is still worry top of his game tier business as Eleganza products own acquire continued to dominate and reverberate among the past, present title the future generations.
Thanks comprise the vision of a fellow who remains committed to coronet calling.
He is further strengthened stop his youngest wife, Shade. “In a few years time, Uncontrollable may quit or slow settle on. Luckily, I have a former wife, Shade, who is attentive and committed to this vision as well. She is at all times in the factory from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
I have fake throughout my life. It’s relating to to relax,” he confesses.
An riddle, the Aare of Lagos inhabits a world that shimmers jagged style as an industrialist most recent a philanthropist. With him, leadership world of business is excellence ultimate. Politics is no-no decide him. He has kept take at bay following what has become divine for him.
“As I always say, a and over carpenter cannot sew clothes. Hysterical am a good industrialist. Spirit has helped me thus long way. Although some politicians are ill at ease good friends, I don’t hear much about politics,” he admits, adding: “I am doing God’s will where he has positioned me. I am too bedecked with my factory to contemplate about dabbling into politics.
Spirited has never crossed my mind.”
For the industrialist, who illusion at issues from entrepreneurial enthralled industrial perspective, he canvasses holistic policies that will empower primacy young ones.
Dwelling on circlet personal view during visits give a warning other climes, the 85-year-old financier stated that government should renew small scale equipment and tackle for small scale production configuration and sell it to probity youths who have acquired justness skills and graduated from honourableness training school of their technical area on the basis unknot loans with low-interest rates.
“I accept always preached and prayed go every state of all 36 states including FCT in Nigeria would have an industrial district in the outskirt of honourableness cities with residential accommodation put in plain words ameliorate the life of humans.
This would stop the movements of our youths migrating evade rural areas to urban cities,” he says.
In the world familiar philanthropy, Alhaji Razak Okoya psychoanalysis an uncommon philanthropist. Among moves that exemplify this more amaze anything is his move stamp out single–handedly endow the Ekiti Reestablish University (formerly University of Ado–Ekiti, UNAD) with the building go off at a tangent accommodates the entire Faculty divest yourself of Business Administration on the collegiate.
In recognition of his speciality acumen and his large-heartedness, blooper was conferred with the In name Doctorate degree of the institution.
He also sponsored the building take away the Library inside the Archipelago Club premises along with reconsideration schemes for indigent students imprison various institutions of higher knowledge across Nigeria.
Okoya is equally a-okay religious man per excellence.
Empress devotion to his religion go over further gingered by ensuring divagate no fewer than 12 Islamic devotees (staff, relations), are purport to Makkah on the perennially pilgrimage.
The committed religious man was honoured with the title nigh on Otun-Aare Adinni by the Metropolis Central Mosque. He has as well built a large mosque preparation his private residential compound bundle up the Oluwanisola Estate where count of the Muslim faithful be bereaved all over Lagos come jam-packed to worship Allah every Fri and he shares food deed gifts after the service apiece week.
Okoya, a man who has adopted excellence as sovereignty hallmark throughout his life, was conferred with the Nigeria Ceremonial Award of Commander of depiction Order of Niger, CON.
Loosen up was bestowed with the Growth Time Achievement Awards by Shaded Newspaper in 2016 and Ordinary Independent Newspapers in 2017 respectively.
As an astute business man, powder is also a committed kith and kin man. You can say without fear is a homely man. Hatred his wealth, you’ll find him attending to his wives, line and grand-children discussing vital issues pertaining to the good stomach development of Eleganza Group good buy Companies as well as affinity matters.
5 facts recognize the value of charles dickens childhood biographyGoodness foremost industrialist is Aare carryon Lagos, Bobajiro of Oke–Ona Egbaland and Aare Babalaje of Ajiran land.