Raheem Okoya Pushes Back on “Daddy’s Money” Claims, Says He Earns Salary and Secures Investors

Raheem Okoya, son of billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, has dismissed suggestions that his lifestyle and career are solely funded by his father’s wealth, insisting that he works for his income and independently attracts investors.

Speaking in an interview with BBC News Yoruba, the 22-year-old Executive Director of Eleganza Industries said he earns a personal salary and has secured financial backing for his music career based on merit.

“I’m not just spending the chairman’s money; I work. I earn a salary. I have investors. People believe in my music and put money behind it,” he stated.

Okoya revealed that his preparation for leadership began early, noting that he spent about a decade shadowing his father and learning the principles of business and financial discipline. According to him, his father, who built the Eleganza empire from the ground up, deliberately raised his children to understand wealth creation rather than rely on inheritance.

“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, adding that his father emphasised hard work and enterprise despite not being born into wealth.

He also acknowledged that his age presents challenges in the corporate space, saying he often faces doubt and scrutiny due to being a young executive. “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 explained.

Beyond business, the Isale-Eko-born executive spoke about his musical journey, citing Fuji icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal as a major influence during his upbringing.

Okoya described his father as his greatest inspiration and said his driving motivation is to make him 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 further criticised what he called persistent misrepresentation in the media, accusing some outlets of spreading “fake news” and framing him unfairly. “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 that distorted narratives about his life are both painful and misleading.