Popular Nigerian industrialist and businesswoman, Shade Okoya, has addressed long-standing public curiosity and criticism surrounding her marriage to billionaire businessman, Chief Razak Okoya. In a recent interview with BBC Yoruba, the 48-year-old firmly stated that she has no regrets about marrying a much older man, asserting that her life has been full and joyful.
Shade Okoya, who married Chief Okoya in 1999 at the age of 21, has now spent more than two decades with the 85-year-old Eleganza Group chairman. Despite the significant age difference, she said her marriage has brought her nothing but happiness, respect, and fulfillment.
"I Didn't Miss Out on Anything"
Responding to societal assumptions that marrying a younger man might have offered her more personal freedom or experiences, Shade was emphatic in her dismissal.
“I’m happy in my marriage to him. He is far older than me, but I don’t think I ever missed out on anything because I didn’t marry a younger man,” she said.
She highlighted the generosity and unwavering support she receives from her husband, adding, “My husband has been very generous with me and defends me anywhere. God said this is where I will be. We met each other, and he liked me and he did not waste time at all.”
Over the years, Shade Okoya has evolved from a young bride into a formidable presence in Nigeria’s industrial and fashion sectors, managing aspects of the family’s business empire. She’s known not only for her grace in social circles but also for her role in sustaining and expanding the Eleganza brand alongside her husband.
Her recent remarks serve as both a reaffirmation of her personal choices and a message to critics who have long speculated about the nature of her relationship.
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