Raheem Okoya Pushes Back Against ‘Trust Fund’ Label, Details 10-Year Path to Leadership

Raheem Okoya, son of billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, has dismissed claims that his lifestyle and career are funded entirely by family wealth.

In an interview with BBC News Yoruba, the 22-year-old Executive Director of Eleganza Industries said he receives a salary for his role in the company and has independently secured financial backing for his music projects.

“I’m not just spending the chairman’s money; I work. I earn a salary. I have investors,” he said, adding that supporters who believe in his music have committed funds to his career.

Groomed for Leadership

Okoya said his corporate journey did not begin with his recent appointment. According to him, he spent the last decade learning the business under his father’s guidance.

He explained that from his school years, he shadowed his father in preparation for a leadership role. The training, he said, was deliberate and long-term.

The businessman noted that his father, who built the Eleganza conglomerate from scratch, prioritised teaching his children how to generate wealth rather than depend on inheritance.

“My dad wasn’t born rich,” Okoya said. “He tries to instill those values in his kids. He wants his children to work and build a fortune, not just spend it.”

Facing Doubts Over His Age

Despite his experience within the company, Okoya acknowledged that being 22 comes with added pressure.

He described the responsibility as heavy, noting that many people question his competence because of his age.

“People already want to doubt you,” he said. “You always have to prove that you know what you’re talking about.”

Music, Influence and Motivation

Beyond the corporate boardroom, Okoya also spoke about his passion for music. He credited Fuji icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal as a major influence during his upbringing.

“K1 is a legend. He used to ring in the corridors of my house,” he said.

Okoya added that his strongest motivation is making his father proud, describing him as his hero and mentor.

Criticism of Media Portrayals

The Eleganza executive also addressed what he called persistent misrepresentation in the media. He accused some outlets of distorting narratives to generate public outrage.

“I don’t like fake news,” he said. “They will take a little thing or completely change the narrative and perspective on me. It’s not nice. It’s painful.”

Okoya’s comments come amid ongoing public scrutiny of high-profile heirs in Nigeria’s business and entertainment spaces, where wealth, youth and leadership often attract intense debate.