On Monday, January 5, 2025, Nigeria’s revered octogenarian industrialist, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya (CON), chose compassion over celebration to mark his 86th birthday. It was a moment that blended gratitude, grace and generosity; reinforcing a pattern many have come to identify with the billionaire industrialist.
The Chairman of Eleganza Industrial City Limited turned what could have been a lavish birthday affair into an extraordinary humanitarian spectacle, which left residents of Ajah and neighbouring communities not just deeply moved but fostered a sense of belonging in them.
For a man whose name has become synonymous with enterprise, resilience and enduring wealth, Chief Okoya once again rewrote the script of celebration. The billionaire businessman, whose multi-billion-naira empire spans industries under the iconic Eleganza brand along with decades of active inventiveness, stunned many as he flagged off a massive, free medical outreach for people living around him.
Fondly called Eleganza by admirers, Chief Okoya’s legacy stretches beyond boardrooms and factory floors. Generations of Nigerians, pupils, students of tertiary institutions, market leaders, artisans and other professionals have different stories to tell about using the famous Eleganza biro, a modest tool that quietly became part of the success stories of several generations.
At 86, the industrialist, rather than roll out drums for a flamboyant birthday bash as many who are not even in his class are wont to, Chief Okoya deliberately redirected his celebration to the streets and homes of ordinary people in Ajah and the wider Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
For a people who ordinarily may never gain access to him, Chief Okoya unveiled the Okoya @86 Medical Outreach, a week-long programme designed to deliver free, quality healthcare services to people who might otherwise be denied such care due to poverty, limited education or lack of information.
As a result, his sprawling Oluwa ni Nshola Estate became a beehive of activities, as residents from near and far-flung communities including Ajah, Jakande, Ikota, Iru, Elegushi, Eleko, Epe and surrounding communities trooped out in their numbers – men, women, young parents and the elderly; hopeful and grateful as medical professionals attended to them with dignity and care.
The outreach, which continues until January 12, 2025, the actual birth date of the celebrant, stands as a bold testament to Chief Okoya’s long-standing commitment to community development, healthcare delivery and the service of mankind.
In what has been described as unprecedented, beneficiaries were doubly delighted when Dr. Jemilade Longe, Consultant for the Okoya @86 Medical Outreach and a retired Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Services Commission, announced that anyone who completed the cycle would go home with a food pack and N10,000 transport fare, courtesy the celebrator.
Addressing the guests, Chief Okoya explained that his decision to give back to the people of less means was born from observation and gratitude.
He noted that while he has been fortunate to enjoy quality healthcare throughout his life, many around him are not so lucky. “This birthday,” he implied, “is not about me — it is about giving people the chance to live healthier, happier lives.
“I prayed to God that I know this year. Health is wealth. I have been going in and out of the country but by the grace of God, now, I feel better. I see that most of us, if we detect our health challenges earlier enough, we won’t have problem. Six years ago, I even had prostate cancer, which I detected on time, I had been operated and I am happy with it.
“Today we have tests here, anyone who wants to do test for prostate cancer, HIV; it’s available. There is no disease that is untreatable once it is earlier detected and you know your status and you take care of yourself; you know what to eat, what to drink and you are taking good care of your health. So, health is wealth. You can live up to the age of 100 years or more,” he told the guests.
Chief Okoya added, “And this is why I am grateful today and I said I should extend what I have been enjoying to my community, so that everyone can know the status of his or her health and this is why we are here with this medical outreach today.”
He thanked the government of Lagos State, doctors, pharmacists, whom he described as ‘high caliber.’
“They are here for the next one week and we are ready to give our services; whoever needs attention, our doctors will take care of them,” he finished off.
Mrs Folashade Okoya, MON, wife of the celebrator and Managing Director of Eleganza Industrial City Limited, would, however, state that it was not the first time the Chief would be doing a social responsibility of this nature.
Chief Rasak Okoya @86 Medical Outreach is just something we decided to do so that everybody will be conscious of their health status and they can control from there. So, this is just an awareness for people to know what is wrong with them physically and mentally. When you know your health status, you will be able to now start checking and start controlling and know what to do, what to eat, how to ensure that you are in the best state of health and today marks the first day.”
For Shubomi Okoya, son and director at Eleganza Industry, “These are some of the things that we as young boys aspire to do like him. So, we all support him today. He loves to give out. You can help just one person today; he will be grateful for life. We give glory to God for everything.”
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, who represented Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, said, “I am very, very elated to be here representing the Ministry of Health, representing the Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. When I was called to come here to flag off this event, I said to myself, perfect! I didn’t even have to think about it twice and chief has said it all: “Health is wealth”.
“The governor cannot do it all; everybody has to be responsible for their health. So, when events like this occur, when philanthropists like Chief Okoya decides to do this, it’s not just because of his community, it is also to honour God and, like he said, also to thank God because a lot of us has been through healthcare and the best thing is to lead other people and say ‘I do not want bad thing to happen to you’.
“Early detection is going to save life. That’s what this outreach is all about. There are many other outreaches that are going on in different places but this is such a comprehensive one. This is excellent, and I got the list of all the things you are providing, not only lab services even family planning that we are always talking about in Ministry of Health that people space out their children so that we can reduce our maternal and infant mortality rate. We have HIV screening, very, very important, tuberculosis, dental services, eye screening services, breast and cervical cancer, prostate cancer and, of course, you are going to get drugs….
