When Nigeria’s octogenarian industrialist, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, 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. On Monday, January 5, 2025, 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 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 has chosen to write another chapter of impact, laced not with ink, but a large dose of empathy. 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.

Many of the people ordinarily would not be able to gain access to him but his intentional and purposeful decision granted them unhindered entry. His reason was simple, yet profound: good health is the foundation of a good life. Still, he is not unaware that many Nigerians lack access to quality healthcare.

To bridge that gap, he 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 of this, his sprawling estate became a beehive of activities as residents from near and far-flung communities including Ajah, Jakande, Ikota, Iru, Egunshi, Eleko, Epe and surrounding communities trooped out in their numbers. Men, women, young parents and the elderly not only gained entrance but got to experience the comfort of the classic Eleganza chairs as they sat patiently in the over 300-capacity hall of the expansive castle, 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. Far from a token gesture, the initiative has been described by many as unprecedented as beneficiaries were extremely delighted about the gesture of accessing the ordinarily expensive healthcare services for free. Beyond the comprehensive medical check-ups, each beneficiary who completes the cycle would get a food pack and N10,000 transport fare as earlier announced by Dr. Jemilade Longe, Consultant for the Okoya @86 Medical Outreach and a Retired Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Services Commission.

Early detection of prostate cancer saved my life — Chief Okoya

In his speech at the event, Chief Rasaq Okoya spoke with characteristic humility, explaining that his decision to give back to the people of less means in the format he did was borne out of 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 is not about me, it is about giving people the chance to live healthier, happier lives”, he said.

According to Chief Okoya, “Health is wealth. I have been going in and out of the country but by the grace of God, I feel better now. 

I see that for most of us, if we can detect our health challenges earlier enough, we won’t have any problem. Six years ago, I even had prostate cancer which I detected early, I had an operation and I am okay now. Today, we have tests here, anyone who wants to do a test for prostate cancer or HIV, it’s available. There is no disease that is untreatable once it is detected early and you know your status, 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. And this is why I am grateful today and decided 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 that will run for the next one week. Whoever needs attention, our doctors will take care of them,” said Chief Okoya.

To the wife of the celebrant and Managing Director of Eleganza Industrial City Limited, Mrs Folashade Okoya, it was not the first time Chief Okoya would be engaging in a social responsibility of this nature.

According to her, “Chief Rasak Okoya @86 Medical Outreach is just something we decided to do so that everybody will be conscious of their health status. 

This is just an awareness for people to know what is wrong with them physically and mentally so that when they know their health status, they will be able to know what to do, what to eat, how to ensure they are in the best state of health and today marks the first day.”

As for Shubomi Okoya, son and director at Eleganza Industry, “These are some of the things that we as young boys aspire to do, so, we all support him. He loves to give out. You can help just one person today, but he will be grateful for life.”

Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, who represented Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, said,

“Early detection will save lives and that is what this outreach is all about. There are many other outreaches that are going on in different places but this is a comprehensive one. In this medical outreach, they are not only providing lab services but also family planning, HIV screening, tuberculosis, dental services, eye screening services, breast and cervical cancer, prostate cancer, blood pressure and, of course, you will get drugs. We say thank you to Chief Okoya and his entire family”.

Health experts, volunteers and beneficiaries alike echoed similar sentiments, praising the Okoya @86 Medical Outreach as timely, impactful and deeply humane. For many residents, the programme was more than a medical exercise — it was a rare reminder that wealth, when guided by conscience, can truly heal.

Lives are being transformed with this medical outreach — Health givers

One of the health givers at the medical outreach, Prisca Anyakee, who is head of marketing of Grandville Hospital, said, “We see this as celebration of a legacy giving back to his people and it is the kind of life that chief has lived. For example, we have attended to 150 people and these are lives that are being transformed because the screening is intensive. On our own part at Grandville, our doctors are here, our nurses are here, also the eyes screening is very thorough and even the medications. These are some of the things that we are contributing to the programme.”

Another health giver and optician, Dr. David Ayanlere, of Haven Eye Clinic let journalists into what services his own section was contributing to the outreach. He said, “We are basically doing visual screening here, we are also trying to diagnose and help elderly patients to get reading glasses and see smartly better. We can also diagnose early stages of conditions that are just starting up and we can refer properly and manage”.

Mrs Haruna Oluwaseyi of Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, who headed the pharmacy team, assured that the Okoya @86 Medical Outreach had enough drugs to take care of patients estimated to hit 1,000. On areas of cases she has touched Mrs Haruna said, “We have given eye drugs, hypertensive drugs, analgesic drugs for pain relief, drugs as well as drugs for malaria and diabetes”.

Beneficiaries’ testimonies

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke on their experiences during the ongoing Okoya @86 Medical Outreach generally agreed it was massive. One of the beneficiaries, Mallam AbdulMalik Kolawole who said he came from Jakande to partake in the medical outreach, said, “I came because of eye problem, they gave me drugs because they said my case has not reached the stage to be recommended for eye glasses. I also did an HIV test which was negative and also had my teeth examined”.

Comfort Kakraba, a Ghanaian, also shared her experience saying, “I did not expect it. I thank God for the man who organised this. They checked my blood, my urine, everything is perfect, the drugs I got here today will cost me a lot of money outside.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs Funke Olayemi who said she came from Abule in Lafiaji, Lagos Island, expressed her joy and appreciation to Chief Okoya over the gesture. She said, “I came because of an eye problem, they examined me, gave me drugs and eye glasses. What is more, they also gave me takeaway food and N10,000 transport money for coming. This is great”.

As the days roll toward the grand finale on January 12, Okoya @86 is already etched in the hearts of the people — not as a birthday party, but as a powerful act of love from a man who chose to celebrate life by preserving the lives of others.