Raheem Okoya, son of Nigerian industrialist Rasaq Okoya, has said he is not just spending his father’s money, saying he works and earns his salary.

Speaking in an interview with BBC News Yoruba, Okoya said people back his music because they believe in it.

“I’m not just spending the chairman’s (His father’s) money; I work. I earn a salary. I have investors. People believe in my music and put money behind it,” he said.

Okoya said he did not get his position by chance.

He said he spent years learning the job under the guidance of his father, Rasaq Okoya, who built the Eleganza group from the ground up.

“I’ve been learning this position my whole life. From when I was in school, I’ve been shadowing my dad. It’s not an overnight thing. It’s been 10 years in the making,” he said.

He also spoke about how his upbringing blended music and business.

Okoya said Fuji singer King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal was a familiar sound around his home.

“K1 is a legend. He used to ring in the corridors of my house,” he said.

Okoya admitted that public opinion still weighs on him, especially as a young man from a wealthy family.

“It’s definitely challenging. It’s a heavy responsibility. People already look at you. You’re young. They already want to doubt you,” he said.

He described his father as his mentor and said he hopes to make him proud.

“I love my dad so much. He’s my number one hero, my mentor. I just hope I can really, really make him proud one day,” Raheem said.

He also criticised what he described as false narratives about him in the media.

“I don’t like fake news. I hate fake news. The media likes to put me up as a villain… It’s not always the truth,” he said.

Spraying naira video

Last year, Okoya and his brother faced backlash after a video showed them spraying bundles of N1,000 notes in a music promotion clip.

The clip went viral and sparked criticism on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the act and questioning accountability.

The incident later led to an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning over alleged naira abuse.

In a separate interview in 2025, Okoya also insisted that his money is from his personal effort and not his father’s wealth.

“Every penny in my bank account today is based on what I do, my sweat,” he said.