Razak Okoya is a Yoruba man from the south-western part of Nigeria. He was born to the family of Tiamiyu Ayinde Okoya in Lagos, the then capital of Nigeria. He attended Ansar-Un-Deen primary school in Oke Popo, his only formal schooling. He worked in his father’s tailoring business, which also included the sale of tailoring accessories.
The experience he got gave him the confidence to start tailoring activities on his own. He saved every penny he made until he had 20 pounds. His mother gave him the extra 50 pounds, and with the blessing of his father, he started importing and trading goods from Japan.
Razak Okoya’s business expanded swiftly, he travelled far and wide and learnt how things were manufactured having the strong feeling that Nigeria could match that quality if not better.
His first wife, Kuburat Okoya, was obsessed with costly jewellery and he was always baffled at how much she said they cost. He strongly felt the prices were outrageous since the metals could be designed at a cheaper price and the metals were readily available in Nigeria.
Challenged by his perceived demand, he travelled abroad, bought the machines. That marked the birth of Eleganza Jewelry. The success was phenomenal. They could not keep up with the demand because, the products were beautiful, durable and cheap. They were instant best sellers. He also started manufacturing buttons and jewellery.
He began the importation of shoes in large quantities, subsequently. On one of these occasions, the shoes were not delivered despite his payment. He travelled to Italy to see the manufacturer only to discover that they had used his money to settle their bills. He was so angry that he decided there and then to start manufacturing his own shoes. He imported all the machines and brought in some experts who trained his workers.
Today, under his Chairmanship, the Eleganza Industries produces a wide range of household goods and utensils including cutlery, collieries, food warmers, ice chests, electric fans, cosmetics and ballpoint pens.
His factory locations include Oregun-Ikeja, Isolo, Alaba and Iganmu, the Company now directly employs over five thousand Nigerians and non-Nigerians including those working in his RAO Property Investment Company.
Okoya’s Eleganza Group is one of the biggest homegrown conglomerates in Nigeria today, with over six factories, and its products are household names in Nigeria neighbouring African markets.
He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award as Business Entrepreneur of Our Time from Thisday Newspapers.
His magnificent and outlandish estate, “Oluwa ni Shola” (The Lord creates wealth) Estate at Lekki/Ajah Expressway is his primary residence. The “Oluwa ni shola” Estate, which is also described as an expatriates Estate because of the high number of expatriates living there, is well equipped with uninterrupted power and water supply, marble floors, central air-conditioning, sauna, lush gardens, billiard room, tennis court, swimming pools, expensive sculptures and lots more.
Okoya has fathered many children from several marriages one of his senior wives of over 50 years marriage is Kuburat Olayinka Okoya who had seven children. His other wives are Ajoke Okoya, Yetunde Okoya, Jennifer Okoya, Zainab Okoya. His last wife is Shade Okoya, and her children are ‹ Olamide, Subomi, Oyinlola and Wahab.
Razak Okoya has had a number of wives over the course of his life. Prominent amongst them are Alhaja Kuburat Okoya, his senior wife, and Dr. Shade Okoya, the C.E.O. of Eleganza Group. He has claimed that the latter is loyal and hardworking.
Chief Okoya has had several children with his various wives. One of them is Olori Moji Tejuosho, the consort of Omoba Lanre Tejuosho.