This is an excerpt from an interview granted by the CEO, Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, to the Arise TV recently.
According to the 83-year-old business mogul, his youngest wife, Dr Shade Okoya brought Eleganza out of the woods.
He said, “Shade was the one who consolidated my empire. She walked in and solidified everything you see today…”
His 24-year-old marriage to the mum of four has always enjoyed media attention, and his younger kids from her too.
“I am holding these younger ones (Shade’s children) close so they don’t go astray like the older ones.
Shade goes to the factory by 7am and comes back by 7pm. She is in charge of everything you see in Eleganza.
Shade decorates my home and maintain it. I don’t know how she does it. I just walk in and see my home like this.
I will never take my company public. I will keep it in the family. My eldest daughter, (by Shade) she’s schooling in Europe but me and Shade brought her to Nigeria to come and know how the business works so she can take over…I hope she will not make a mistake like other children…
I am teaching my children (by Shade) experience and skill. Handwork, engineering, carpentry is a valuable skill. I need them more in my company even more than accountants. Technology can do that but man needs to still man machines. I am teaching my children that. They will take over from me and Shade.”
I have properties all over Nigeria but the market is getting saturated now. Many people are in it. The young salary earners cannot afford homes now. I sell some of them to put in the factory. I hope my children will manage them better when they are done with school.”
“I am learning technology now but I have left most of it to my children. I like them around me. They teach me a lot of things. My children with Shade are smart…”
‘I have been married to Shade for 20 years. She gave me four beautiful children. They are good children. They are not like the rest.”