Fatai Okoya, who identifies himself as the first child of billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, has publicly apologised to his father and appealed for reconciliation after decades of estrangement.
In an open letter that circulated online, Fatai expressed regret over their prolonged separation and said he wanted another opportunity to rebuild their relationship.
“Dad, I am truly sorry. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me,” he wrote.
Fatai also spoke about their relationship during a livestream, alleging that he had made several attempts to contact his father but struggled to gain access to him.
He attributed their disagreement to a small amount of money he took when he was younger, describing himself at the time as reckless.
The 66-year-old further alleged that he was prevented from approaching his father during the industrialist’s 86th birthday celebration. He claimed that Shade Okoya, Razaq Okoya’s wife, turned him back.
“I was turned back by Alhaja Shade Okoya. My father did not have anything to say,” he alleged.
Shade Okoya had not publicly responded to the allegation as of the time of filing this report.
In his open letter, Fatai said the years of separation had caused him pain and that he had repeatedly tried to make peace.
He urged his father to look beyond their past differences and give their relationship another chance.
“We cannot turn back the hands of time, but we can choose to make the years ahead different,” he wrote.
Fatai ended the letter by reaffirming his affection for his father and expressing hope that they could reconnect.
Razaq Okoya is the founder of the Eleganza Group, a manufacturing conglomerate known for household and consumer goods. He began his business career as a trader before expanding into manufacturing in the early 1970s.
The precise number of his children has not been publicly confirmed by the industrialist. In February 2026, his son Raheem Okoya, popularly known as Siraheem, said in an interview that his father had 26 children with nine women.
Fatai’s claim to be the billionaire’s first child has not been independently established, while the circumstances surrounding their estrangement remain unclear.
Razaq Okoya had not publicly responded to his son’s appeal as of the time of filing this report.
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