Nigerian billionaire Chief Razaq Akanni Okoya, the founder of the Eleganza Group, recently opened up about how he built his vast industrial empire from humble beginnings.
In a candid interview, the 86-year-old Aare of Lagos revealed that his journey started in his father’s tailoring shop, where he began by selling buttons.
He credited much of his success to the strong support he received from his parents early in life.
However, Okoya expressed some frustration over his older children’s reluctance to follow in his footsteps in the manufacturing and industrial sector.
According to him, they prefer to carve out their own paths.
“They always want to do things on their own,” he said, even though he has consistently advised them on the importance of parental guidance.
Photos from the interview show the business mogul alongside his wife, Shade, and other family members — offering a glimpse into the personal side of succession challenges facing one of Nigeria’s most prominent family-run conglomerates.
The Eleganza Group has grown into a major player in plastics and consumer goods, with a strong presence across West Africa.