This Saturday, January 11, 2020 all roads would lead to the palatial edifice of Chief Dr. Razak Akanni Okoya, CON, which is known to most as ‘Oluwa ni shola’ (God alone makes wealth) Estate. It is truly a vast estate by all standards with all the works. The great man built the palatial edifice to be a one stop place, with a sizable event hall on the estate that can easily accommodate a thousand effortlessly. We doubt if ever there’s another estate this colossal in Lagos. On the date of the gathering, which is Saturday the 11th, a day to his actual date of birth, the great Aare (that is traditional Prime Minister) of Lagos, a title that’s just one out of the numerous high powered ones he carries; this particular one was bestowed on him several years ago by the Oba of Lagos. ‘Baba Okoya’ as some fondly call him, would be clocking the grand old age of 80, that is 4 scores, which is 8 decades on earth! An achievement by all standards. So the party to celebrate him becoming an octogenarian, welcoming him into a class or league of those in their 80s, promises to be epic or better still colossal.
The unrivaled Billionaire industrialist, who is the brain behind the quite popular ‘Eleganza Industries’ (Group of Companies) and RAO Property has been in our eyes and on the scene now for very many decades. His has been the story of steady but sure-footed growth till he became the industrial giant he has been for too long now. What has become this oak tree yielding awesome fruits began with a seed fund of just £70. £20 pounds that he saved all by himself and the other £50 his blessed mother added to it. And in his life’s journey he has won many awards too for his hardwork, consistency, perseverance and more. His younger wife, Dr. Mrs Folashade Okoya who God has blessed immensely since she got married to Chief Okoya, with 4 brilliant kids to the boot, is the one that is now the overall boss of that vast company. Aare Razak Akanni Okoya aka RAO was born on January 12, 1940 in Isale Eko, Lagos Island here. Chief Okoya is the eldest and the male of the two kids of his parents, his other sibling is his beautiful sister Wosilat Demola Seriki. Aare has at least 11 kids between his 2 wives and still has other kids from his other former wives too, about 4 of them. Making 6 women in all-Alhaja Kuburat-7. Ajoke, Yetunde, Jennifer, Zainab and Folashade-4. The impressive Folashade, who is Chief’s last wife, who he has also commended greatly for her immense love and extreme loyalty to him is leaving no stone unturned to make sure it’s another party to look forward to. The Okoya’s have been known for many years now to throw some of the best parties/shindigs around. From when they used to live at Ikoyi Crescent residence till now at the vast Oluwa-ni-shola edifice. So Shade is making sure to dot her I and cross her t. The beautiful invitation is already going out. It has become an annual ritual for Shade and her husband and their kids to have a birthday photo-shoot and we are already looking forward to that too this year.