Success Wasn't Easy To Come By - Rasaq Okoya

CEO Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Rasaq Okoya, sat down for an interview with Saturday Beats, where he talked about growing up and becoming successful in life.
Read excerpts from the interview:

Did you know when you were growing up, that you would one day become this influential and successful?

In all my growing life to date, I have always given thanks to the almighty Allah for sustaining me, giving me direction and my success

What was your childhood dream?

My childhood dream was like that of any other child of my age and time. However, mine was backed up by the treatment I received from my parents. I was never allowed to play much. I had three sections per day – first section at school, second section at my father’s tailoring shop and third section at the mosque. This gave me the attitude to work hard and also to save all cash that was given to me.

So many people may not know that your story is that of grass to grace, can you tell us how you were able to build your business empire from almost nothing?

It is from the discipline and hard work with no time to play. When I returned from school, I was always with my father in his tailoring shop to assist him in my little way. Thereafter I started sewing torn clothes at little cost for neighbours. As I was able to save up money, I started the business of buying and selling clothing and sewing materials at the front of my father’s shop. I was able to save up some money and I also borrowed from my mother to start importation of tailoring materials.


You only had primary education as your formal training, are there times you feel any regret that you didn’t further your education?

It is true that I had only primary education and immediately after, I went into trading. I don’t feel any regret that I had only primary education. If I had acquired the highest educational qualification, it is still money and wealth that are the bottom line.

Was there any reason why you just had primary education?

As stated earlier, my love for trading made me to drop at primary level.

Was it easy getting to be successful?

The journey wasn’t an easy one; it’s full of ups and downs. But my ‘can do’ attitude kept me moving and in no time, I became real entrepreneur.

Your father was a tailor; did you consider doing his line of business?

I was always with him in his tailoring shop, so I can’t say I never considered tailoring, but as soon as I started making money from the minor works and petty trading of tailoring materials around his shop, I forgot about it.

What has been your greatest challenge since you started running your business?

My challenges in business were not being able to manufacture products in full capacity, due to lack of forex to buy raw materials and electricity to power the factory through the use of generators. Diesel price has always been on the increase and Electricity from power firm is never coming.