The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rasaq Okoya

  • Okoya unveils free medical outreach on 86th birthday

    Okoya unveils free medical outreach on 86th birthday

    Industrialist  and philanthropist, Chief Rasaq Okoya, yesterday kicked off a free medical outreach for residents of Ajah in Lagos to mark his 86th birthday.

    The outreach, from January 5 to 12 at his  Oluwanisola home, was a way of prostate screening, mammograms, HIV tests, eye exams, diabetes screening, breast and cervical cancer screening, dental checks, tuberculosis tests, malaria tests, hepatitis B screening, urinalysis, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar checks, family planning education, reading-glasses, medications and general consultations.

    Residents diagnosed with serious health conditions will be referred and treated at partnering hospitals at no cost. Participants will get a N10,000 stipend to ease their movement.

    One hundred and twenty residents will benefit from the outreach, with organisers saying the number may be increased depending on turnout.

    Okoya, who chairs Eleganza Group of Companies, said the outreach was his way of giving back to the community and promoting early detection and preventive healthcare.

    “I am grateful to God for my life. Six years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Because it was detected early, I was treated successfully and today I am healthy,” he said.

    He stressed that many live with health conditions without knowing, warning that late detection often makes treatment difficult and expensive.

    “Many do not know where their health problems lie. When you know your status early and take care of yourself, you can live to 80, 100 or more,” Okoya said.

    Read Also: 2026 budget planned to solidify Tinibu’s achievements – Information Minister

    He said doctors, pharmacists and others had been assembled, with Lagos State support.

    “Anyone needing admission will get care. By the grace of God, we will be responsible. Long life comes with taking care of yourself. Just as a car needs regular servicing, your body also needs regular checks,” he said.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, who represented the state, lauded Okoya ‘‘the rare and impactful gesture’’.

    “This is a fine initiative by  Okoya to mark his 86th birthday. Instead of a party, he is giving back to his community through health,” she said.

    Ogunyemi noted that the outreach aligns with the state’s emphasis on preventive healthcare and early diagnosis.

    “Early detection saves lives and it is cheaper. This is a private initiative, funded by Okoya. As a government, we support it and have deployed our doctors and nurses to assist,” Ogunyemi said.

    She urged residents to embrace health insurance, highlighting Lagos State schemes such as Ilera Eko and Eko Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) for vulnerable residents.

    “Health insurance is very important. It prevents situations where people are denied care because they cannot pay. Health is wealth. If you are not healthy, you cannot enjoy your wealth,” she added, while wishing Okoya many more years in good health.

    Wife of the celebrant, Mrs Shade Okoya, said the outreach was part of the family’s long-standing commitment to social responsibility, noting that this year’s programme places special emphasi.s on public awareness about personal health status.

    “This is not something we are doing for the first time. We have always been involved in social responsibility, but now we are making it more public and focusing on health awareness,” she said.

    She explained that the programme aims to help people understand their physical and mental health conditions and make informed lifestyle choices.

    “We are running this from January 5 to January 12. We plan to see about 150 people daily, but from the turnout today, we may increase the number. Anyone with serious health issues will be referred to our partner hospitals, and the foundation will take care of their treatment,” she added.

    Mrs Okoya expressed satisfaction with the turnout on the first day, describing it as impressive, and assured residents that the outreach would become an annual programme every January.

    Beyond healthcare, the Eleganza Group of Companies remains one of Nigeria’s largest employers of labour, providing thousands of jobs across its manufacturing and commercial operations.

    Through the Okoya Foundation, the businessman has also made significant contributions to education, including the Alhaji Akanni Okoya Scholarship Awards for undergraduates, and has consistently donated life-saving equipment to hospitals nationwide.

    Okoya, who believes that service to humanity is a divine responsibility, said the outreach reflects his conviction that good health is the foundation for a long and meaningful life.

  • More than a hub

    More than a hub

    • Rasaq Okoya’s call for 37 integrated business cities nationwide is spot on 

    From the Lagos International Trade Fair, on November 9, came a call from Chief Rasaq Okoya, chairman of Eleganza Group of Companies.

    “The picture in my mind places all 36 states and FCT as industrial hubs, varying in speciality” he suggested, “where Nigerian citizens should be able to live, work, shop, have access to healthcare and other conveniences, like recreational and worship facilities, all without leaving their state of origin.”

    Industrial hubs are not new. Indeed, pooling critical infrastructure — road, rail, water, and power — at the service of industrial estates is now routine. Indeed, the in-built economy of scale, that drives down unit costs, makes eminent sense.

    But building wholesale industrial cities, that cater for not only the business but the socio-cultural wellness of the entrepreneurs and workers in-situ, is sheer genius. That’s what recommends the Okoya call, beyond the conventional industrial estate.

    Such integrated business cities could begin to alter economic migrations from one part of the country to another. Besides, such cities, well serviced, may turn many of our states, hitherto cost centres (read the so-called “civil service” states) into profit centres, bubbling with job opportunities.

    Still, on profit centres: these projects could help states to retain most of their active workforce; thus boosting their internally generated revenue (IGR) from taxes. It could also stanch rural-urban movement, since workers, mostly homers, can work, play and worship, and their children go to school, within that industrial precinct.  

    Read Also: How Rasaq Okoya marked 82nd birthday

    That way, work place is also home. So, the inhabitants need not travel too far from their hometowns or villages to access jobs and drive their daily living. That could also help to preserve (not rupture) the rural ecology — and economy.

    Besides, the idea also flows into one of the core re-industrialisation strategies of the Bola Tinubu administration: creating industrial hubs in each of the 36 states of the country.

    These hubs are to focus on agro-allied processing. Again, agro-allied processing is not new. Indeed, Nigeria’s earliest factories, particularly in the old Western Region, under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, did agro-processing: raw cocoa to beverages, natural rubber to tyres, etc. That led to industrial estates in Ikeja and other coastal cities, close to the Lagos Port, to also service possible exports.

    But the new industrial hubs, as conceived, are no less strategic. The Awolowo-era estates were Nigeria’s earliest romance with industrialisation — at least by a home government, as distinct from colonial firms. These new hubs are to re-industrialise — and create jobs for millions of Nigerian youths — after the mass de-industrialisation of the structural adjustment programme (SAP) years.

    SAP, and its focus on imports, took away thousands of factory jobs. Imports pay foreign Labour but kill industries at home. That, over the years, has triggered mass joblessness. So, agro-hubs can re-birth thousands of these factory jobs — and power back a vibrant local real sector, without which the economy cannot really expand.

    The Okoya suggestion, therefore, dovetails into this strategy. But beyond recreating the old times, it might also mould a more integrated work-living culture: a new era of self-sufficient industrial cities, boasting factories, workers’ homes, recreation centres, schools and hospitals.

    Still, it is all about core infrastructure: road, rail, power, water. For market connectivity, rail is also critical. The hallmark of every industry, light or heavy, is bulk. Rail is best for bulk and volume transport. It drives down cost, making products both affordable and very competitive.

    So, the new hubs should be developed with a special eye for rail, as indeed the old ones were. The Ikeja Industrial Estate had rail penetration, though now disused.

    The Federal Government, developing these core infrastructure, will open the spigot of private sector investment-activities: the building of factory houses proper, office complexes, and warehouses; while real estate developers could also move in to build workers’ homes, hospitals, churches and mosques, sports facilities and sundry recreation centres.

    The 37 hubs cannot spring up at the same time. But a phased implementation is possible, with the central government rewarding, with adequate incentives, states that provide early land. The Federal Government can also develop own Federal Capital Territory (FCT) hub, preferably along the Okoya model.

  • Buhari congratulates Okoya at 78

    Buhari congratulates Okoya at 78

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Chairman of the Eleganza Group of companies, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, on his 78th birthday.

    A statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Saturday, said Buhari felicitated with all business associates, family and friends of the astute businessman.

    Buhari noted that through vision, hard work and entrepreneurship, Okoya had completely altered the business landscape of Nigeria and West Africa, by starting a cottage industry in the early 70’s that blossomed into a multi-billion naira empire, with a strong household name.

    He commended the Aare of Lagos for his generosity in providing for the less privileged, especially scholarships for people to further their education, and funds to jumpstart small businesses, which he personally provided mentorship.

    According to the president, Okoya and his likes in the country have set the right standards for weaning the country off dependence on one commodity.

    He added that their activities had also assuaged the growing thirst for start-ups by exploring the benefits of personal savings, investments and building global business conglomerates.

    President Buhari prayed that the almighty God would give Chief Okoya good health, longer life and more strength to serve the country and humanity.

  • Rasaq Okoya’s birthday bash

    Rasaq Okoya’s birthday bash

    It is a matter of public knowledge that Lagos bubbles whenever billionaire property mogul, Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya, organises a bash. It is difficult to imagine that many families can match the flamboyance of the Okoyas when it comes to parties.

    It will be recalled that six years ago, Okoya clocked 70 and the celebration was anything but quiet. His 70th birthday bash remains a reference point till date. It is not a surprise therefore that high society is already looking forward to the 76th birthday celebration of the industrialist. With yet another talk of the town celebration billed to take place in a few days time, his beloved wife, Sade, and children are already planning to make it a memorable one.

    Okoya, who is also the Aare of Lagos State, founded the Eleganza Group of Companies whose sphere spans the entire West African region. He is the owner of the magnificent Oluwa ni Shola Estate in Lagos, which is described by many as expatriates’ estate because of the high number of foreigners that stay in it.

  • All set for Rasaq Okoya’s 75 birthday

    IT is no news that whenever an Okoya holds a bash, the entire Lagos freezes. Even fellow socialites marvel at the affluence and glamour on display. Now another of such moment is in the offing and bigwigs are set to grace it. Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya, the billionaire industrialist and Aare of Lagos will be 75 on January 12, 2015.

    Five years ago, Okoya clocked 70 and he was not quiet about it. In fact, his 70th birthday bash remains a reference point for party freaks till date. It was gathered on good authority that his beloved wife, Sade, and his children are planning to make his 75th birthday party a bash to remember. In the first quarter of 2014, the business tycoon officially tied the nuptial knot with his youngest wife and mother of his four children in a fairy tale wedding.

    Rasaq Okoya is the owner and founder of Eleganza Group of Companies whose sphere of operation cuts across the entire Western Africa region. He is the owner of the magnificent and Oluwa ni Shola estate described by some as the home of expatriates because of the high number of expatriates that live on it.

  • Rasaq Okoya stages high- octane Nikkai for daughter

    Rasaq Okoya stages high- octane Nikkai for daughter

    Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya, the billionaire mogul, brought together the creme de la creme of Lagos and Oyo high society at his Oluwanisola esttate, Ajah, Lagos, last week Sunday when he staged a superlative Nikkai for his daughter, Hadiza and Olamiju Alao-Akala, the son of former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Alao-Akala. The event drew a perfect blend of choice guests, ranging from technocrats, industrialists to young professionals who see the bride’s father as a role model and society heavyweight. Among the guests in attendance were Oba Adedapo Tejuosho; Otunba Subomi Balogun; Chief Rasheed Ladoja; Musiliu Smith; Justice Oguntade; Prince Samuel Adedoyin; Dame Abimbola Fashola; Mrs Opral Benson; Hajia Abbah Folawiyo; Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas; Demola Seriki and many others. The couple met about one year ago and their love blossomed into marriage. If what we hear is to be believed, they are already enjoying their honey moon somewhere quiet and exquisite.

  • Rasaq Okoya ups the tempo

    Rasaq Okoya ups the tempo

    From an early age, he had always wanted to make a difference. He knew that distinguishing himself would come at a price. And instead of taking the well beaten path of mediocrity, he craved and followed the narrow path of seriousness, dedication and diligence.

    Popular Lagos-based billionaire businessman and Aare of Lagos, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, knows just the right time to raise the stakes by a notch and keep others on their toes. This unique ability is something that has kept him going for more than four decades in the Nigerian business environment.

    After many years as one of the leading lights in the business sector, many would think the time has come for the chairman of Eleganza Group to take the back seat. But whoever is nursing such a thought must be sorely mistaken. Rather than slow down, the veteran socialite is set to open a mega branch of his companies soon.

    The Eleganza Group is one of the top homegrown businesses in Nigeria today, with more than six factories. He has completed the huge structure housing the factory at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and is due for commissioning in the next few weeks.

    Celeb Watch gathered that Aare Okoya is pulling all the strings to ensure a grand opening ceremony. At the moment, the excitement in his household can easily be felt by a first-time visitor.