More than four decades after becoming estranged from his father, Fatai Okoya has publicly appealed to billionaire industrialist Razaq Akanni Okoya for forgiveness and an opportunity to rebuild their relationship.
Mr Fatai, who identifies himself as the Eleganza Group founder’s first child, appealed in an open letter that circulated online.
He said the years they had spent apart weighed heavily on him and urged his father to allow them to make peace while they still had time.
“More than four decades have passed, and today, I write with a humble heart, putting aside all pride to say: Dad, I am truly sorry. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me,” he wrote.
The letter, signed “Your First Child, Fatai Okoya,” has generated reactions online, with some people expressing sympathy and others questioning what caused the prolonged estrangement.
‘Pain of separation’
Mr Fatai said he had made previous attempts to reach his father and resolve their differences, but the separation continued to cause him pain.
“Over the years, I have tried to reach out and make peace because the pain of our separation and the precious years we have lost weigh heavily on my heart,” he said.
“No matter what has happened, you remain my father, and I will forever be your first child.”
He asked Mr Okoya to look beyond the events that separated them, saying they could not recover the years already lost but could decide what happened next.
“Dad, we cannot turn back the hands of time, but we can choose to make the years ahead different,” he wrote.
“Life is precious, time waits for no one, and I do not want us to lose any more opportunities to love, forgive and reconnect.”
Although Mr Fatai repeatedly referred to past pain and differences, he did not explain what caused the rift or why the separation lasted for more than four decades.
‘Let us begin again’
Mr Fatai said he wanted a chance to heal their relationship and restore their bond.
“I am simply asking for a chance a chance to heal, to make peace and to rebuild the bond between a father and his child,” he wrote.
He said he was prepared to pursue reconciliation with humility and an open mind.
“Dad, please, let love speak louder than the pain of the past. Let forgiveness open a door that has been closed for far too long. I am ready to take that step with humility, sincerity and an open heart.”
He ended the letter with another apology, saying that despite their years apart, he still wanted his father back in his life.
“I love you, Dad. I miss you, and deep down, I still long for the blessing of having my father back in my life,” he wrote.
“Dad, I am truly sorry. My heart is open, my hands are extended, and my hope for reconciliation remains alive. Please, let us begin again.”
The Okoya family
Razaq Okoya founded the Eleganza Group, a manufacturing conglomerate known for producing household and consumer goods.
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He began his business career as a trader before expanding into manufacturing and establishing Eleganza in the early 1970s.
The industrialist has a large family, although the precise number of his children has not been publicly confirmed by him.
In February 2026, one of his sons, Raheem Okoya, popularly known as Siraheem, said in an interview that his father had 26 children with nine women.
The singer described himself as the 23rd child and said the eldest was about 60 years old.
However, the information available for this report does not independently establish Mr Fatai’s claim that he is the billionaire’s first child.
Mr Fatai’s mother’s identity also remains unclear. He did not name her in the letter, and PREMIUM TIMES found no reliable public record identifying her.
The circumstances surrounding the estrangement also remain unclear. Beyond saying he had previously sought peace, Mr Fatai did not provide details of his reported attempts to contact his father.
As of the time of this report, Mr Okoya had not publicly responded to the letter.
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