A man identifying himself as Fatai Okoya has appealed to Nigerian billionaire Razaq Okoya for reconciliation after more than 40 years of separation. The open letter, circulating online, addresses the industrialist as "Dad," apologises for their long separation and asks him to let go of the past, according to a Western Post report published on October 18, 2026.
Who is Fatai Okoya?
The writer identifies himself as Razaq Okoya's first child and expresses a desire to rebuild their relationship. However, the available report does not confirm his age, identify his mother or independently verify his parentage. The letter offers little explanation of the separation, and Western Post said it could not independently verify the writer's identity or the letter's authenticity.
"You will always be my father, and I will always be your first child," he writes, according to the Western Post report. The letter expresses regret but does not explain how the separation began or why previous attempts to reconnect may not have worked.
Who is Razaq Okoya?
Chief Razaq Akanni Okoya is the founder of Eleganza Group, a Nigerian manufacturing business that grew from his early trading ventures. Born in Lagos on January 12, 1940, Okoya learned about commerce in his father's tailoring business. In an interview reported by Punch in April 2026, he recalled how selling tailoring materials helped shape his interest in business.
He eventually built Eleganza into a major enterprise and became a prominent figure in Nigerian industry and high society. His marriages, children and the roles some of them play in the family business have also attracted public attention.
Razaq Okoya's family: wives and children
In February 2026, Okoya's son Raheem said his father had 26 children with nine women. Raheem, an executive director at Eleganza, described himself as the 23rd child. His comments were reported by The Guardian.
Okoya's first wife, Alhaja Kuburat Olayinka Okoya, is reported to have seven children with him. He married Folashade Nimota Okoya, popularly known as Shade Okoya, in May 1999. Their marriage has often attracted attention because of their age difference: Razaq was 59 at the time, while Shade was 21, making them 38 years apart. They have four children — Olamide, Subomi, Oyinlola and Wahab. Shade is a businesswoman who holds a senior management role at Eleganza.
Razaq Okoya's second marriage to Ajoke Okoya reportedly ended in 2001 after irreconcilable differences. According to a 2024 THISDAY profile of Shade Okoya, the split became more contentious after Ajoke moved out of their Ikoyi residence and Okoya disputed the paternity of their youngest child, Rasheed. The report says a DNA test conducted in London later confirmed Okoya was the child's father.
Another reported rift involving Okoya's child
In January 2017, The Capital reported that Okoya's daughter Biola had sought former President Olusegun Obasanjo's help over a dispute with her father. The publication said they later reconciled. The report did not establish the precise cause of their disagreement, and there is no evidence connecting it to Fatai's case.
Will Razaq Okoya respond to the appeal?
The writer says he wants his father back in his life and is willing to take the first step towards reconciliation. The report does not establish whether Okoya has received the letter or responded. The appeal has brought attention to a private family relationship whose history remains unclear.
