Elegance, Power and Purpose: Celebrating the Amazon Driving the Vision of New Eleganza Industrial Empire

Leadership, at its highest level, is not inherited. It is engineered through vision, resilience, and the courage to build what does not yet exist. Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Folashade Okoya, MON, stands as a defining force in Nigeria’s industrial renaissance. As Managing Director of New Eleganza Industrial City Limited, she is not merely steering a company; Dr. Shade Okoya is intentional about driving a modern manufacturing ecosystem that proves that Nigeria can produce at global standards, at scale, and with excellence. Not only that, her reinvention has transformed the New Eleganza Group beyond mere facility but a brand the Gen Z generation can see, connect with, and patronise.

A WOMAN OF PASSION, INNOVATION AND VISION

In an era in which manufacturing is often challenged by infrastructure deficits, import dependency, inflation and an unstable policy environment, the graceful woman has chosen innovation over excuses and systematic structure over sentiments. Under her leadership, industrial processes have become smarter, operations have become more efficient, and standards remain uncompromising. Her philosophy remains clear: sustainable national development must be production-driven and anchored on the tenets of technological advancement and value-addition.
Beyond infrastructure, Chief (Dr.) Okoya’s leadership embodies something far more powerful – intentional inclusion. She represents a new generation of corporate leadership in which women are not symbolic participants in boardrooms but strategic decision makers shaping capital, labour, and industrial growth. She has demonstrated that competence is about vision and recognising opportunities, rather than based on gender.
And by virtue of the conglomerate she leads, her impact extends far beyond the corporate walls. By strengthening local manufacturing capacity, she contributes directly to employment creation, import substitution, national economic resilience and Nigeria’s competitiveness. So far, her leadership is one of the shining examples of the belief that when women lead, industries transform and such industrial transformations lead to the rise of nations.
The 2026 International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with her journey as someone who continues to transport vision to possibility, structure to ambition, and discipline to growth. Serving as a generational inspiration, she is building a legacy of productivity, excellence, and empowered leadership: the mark of a truly inspiring Amazon in Corporate Nigeria.

A LEADER PAR EXCELLENCE

Dr. Shade Okoya’s rise within the Eleganza conglomerate has been steady. Before her current role, she held several positions and demonstrated a high level of brilliance and excellent foresight. This explains why she is widely considered an outstanding leader and vision-driven entrepreneur in the Nigerian economic landscape.
And for those who might think it is easy to sit atop such a leading empire, some of her responsibilities and records at the helm of affairs at Eleganza Industrial City Limited include:

Overseeing all aspects of the company and as well as ongoing transformation into a modern yet dominant force in the Nigerian plastic industry.

Serving as the Chief Architect of the company’s strategies while leveraging extensive business planning and market research intelligence.

Coordinating marketing and sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and providing advisory insights for dealers, distributors and clients concerning sales and advertising techniques.

Managing the company’s resources to generate strong revenue growth, profitability, and maximal shareholder value for investors in line with the company’s mission and vision.

Liaising with contractors for the supply /installation /maintenance of material /equipment & facilities.
Setting budgetary and financial strategies and managing general office administration issues.

Establishing a formidable team spirit through exemplary character and commitment which translates into higher cohesiveness, commitment and improved staff productivity.

Liaising with the company external public and ensuring good services to all customers.

Implementing the board’s decisions.

Evaluating and improving the framework for periodic performance appraisals.

Coordinating the general administration of the conglomerate.

Setting a record in the company by producing over 300,000 cartons of the company’s flagship product in a month and consistently achieving over 100% of monthly production target for over 5 years.

HOW SHE CONCEIVED ELEGANZA INDUSTRIAL CITY LIMITED

For a woman who has been married to an industrial giant and Aare of Lagos, Chief Rasaki Akanni Okoya, CON for the past 27 years, she deserves a round of applause through consistent learning from the business magnate, coupled with her brilliance and industrious acumen.

While some people might not know or pretend not to know, the lovely and obviously brilliant Dr. Shade Okoya has been the brain behind the New Eleganza Empire for the past decade. She actually conceived the vision of the sprawling 40-hectare land located at Km 68, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, which was built in 2013. It is a one-stop production centre for household items.

As a matter of fact, before the new entity was birthed, Eleganza products, which were once the toasts of households across Nigeria, had ceased to be in the markets since 2003. But her vision, resilient spirit and passion revived the manufacturing unit, leading to the renaissance of Eleganza products in Nigeria and beyond. Today, that bold step that breathed life into her vision has turned the new Eleganza Empire into one of the most active entities of the ubiquitous indigenous conglomerates in West Africa.

This is a fact known amongst notable society figure, including captains of industries, venture capitalists, banking partners and senior government functionaries across federal and state levels. Her vision, passion and innovation have propelled the newly-built Eleganza Industrial City Limited to the top of the line among leading manufacturing hubs in Nigeria and the West African markets.

Apart from her role as Managing Director, Eleganza Industrial City Limited, Dr. Shade Okoya has interests in many other business areas. She is a member of the Board of Eleganza Group and RAO Investment Property Company Limited.

Under her watch, the New Eleganza industrial City Limited has grown in production capacity across all locations and she has always stood out as an outstanding entrepreneur whose contributions to Nigeria’s industrial landscape cannot be overemphasised.

With a keen eye for excellence, Dr. Shade Okoya is not only a great leader but equally a great team player with an impressive understanding of the team’s objectives and great understanding of tapping into the strengths and abilities of team members towards achieving common goals.

A highly educated and experienced senior level manufacturing executive, her areas of specialisation include project management, quality assurance, marketing, sales distribution, material/logistics and human resources administration. With her growth mindset for the New Eleganza Empire to be the dominant factor in Nigerian and West African markets, she keeps evolving with cutting edge innovation.

Dr. Okoya no longer a green horn in the corporate word because of her believe that “If you can change your mind, you can change your life. Every new thought creates a new path to walk upon. Believe in possibilities, and your life will blossom with hope and success”.

Today, the New Eleganza prides itself as a leader in the production of Fast Moving Consumtorer Goods (FMCG) quality household products of various sizes, designs and colours of:

Plastic Chairs.

Tables of different sizes.

Luggages/Suitcases.

Cooling Boxes/Food Warmers.

Casseroles.

Baby Diaper/Sanitary Pad.

Plastic Water Tank.

Shoes and Slippers.

Plastic bottles Preform and Cap.

Beauty/Laundry and Multi-Purpose Soaps.

Hair Attachment & Weave-on.

Disposable and Re-Useable plates and Cups.

Cosmetics of baby products ranges.

Newly introduced Cartoon boxes.

Biro.

Currently, the company boasts of over 3,000 workers, thereby providing employment to citizens and residents of Lagos State and its environs as the leading indigenous producer of various household items in Nigeria. Within the next two years, the vision is to begin exporting household items to all African countries.

RECOGNITIONS FOR BREAKING BARRIERS IN MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRIES

Dr. Shade Okoya’s journey in the corporate world has been remarkable, standing as a role model, business magnate and entrepreneur. Over the years, Dr. Okoya industrious and enterprising nature and standing as a woman of excellence have not gone unnoticed.

As woman driving a thriving business to new heights, she is a recognised in terms of the transformative leadership, revenue growth, and innovation she has brought to bear.

Several awards honours highlight impact of her influence on business sustainability, and breaking barriers in male-dominated industries. In March and October 2025, she was honoured at The Arise Gala, Women Making Impact 2025, organised by one of Africa’s authoritative news channels, Arise TV, listing 65 women in the grand finale of the International Women’s Month and Nigeria’s 65th Independence celebrations.

The Board of Arise recognizes her exceptional achievements as one of Nigerians female leaders and change makers, whose impact leadership, resilience, and influence continue to drive progress and transformation. When October 2025 rolled by, it was the turn of the UNILAG Alumni Association to honour her business acumen and leadership role in the corporate landscape.

And several years ago, in faraway London, University of Ibadan Alumni Association bestowed a recognition award on her. It was presented to her by the current Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi ll.

Prior to this time, Dr. Okoya had received several chieftaincy titles, awards and honours for her contributions and for impacting humanity positively.
On October 11, 2022, she was a recipient of national honour of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) conferred on her by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Beyond Nigeria’s borders, she was also honoured with a Doctor of Science, DSC (Honorary Causa) in Business Management and Corporate leadership by the senate of European American University on 23rd August 2014 and as the Most Valuable Business Executive of 2014 by the Board of Trustees and Advisory Council of International Centre for Corporative Leadership for African and Blacks in Diaspora, Accolades International Magazine Limited.
Apart from being pronounced the Matron of FADAN Association of Nigeria in June 2015, other honours include: Glamour Woman of the Year Award 2016, Lifetime Achievement Merit Award 2015 by Intern Center for Comparative, Leadership for African Blacks in Diaspora Newline Communication on 27th August, among others. She also holds several chieftaincy titles such Bewaji of Lagos, Otun Aare Iyalaje of Ajiranland, Yeye Oge of Epe Land, Ajisewa of Oke Ona Egba, etc.

A SUPPORTIVE WIFE AND MOTHER

Dr. Shade Okoya, who has been happily married for 27 years to her humble, amiable, enterprising and forthright billionaire husband and industrialist, Alhaji Chief (Dr) Rasaki Akanni Okoya (CON), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Eleganza Group of Companies as a hardworking wife and mother of four has never allowed her busy schedules to lead to the neglect of her domestic and parental obligations.
Blessed with four amazing children, she has built a commendable bridge of good relationships not just within her family but also across the society.
A fashionable woman of taste and poise who is highly sociable, she has been a constant fixture in the Nigerian social circle for at least two decades but essentially because of the deluge of social events she and her Octogenarian husband are regularly invited, not just to grace; but, often, headline.

Yet, her humility has endeared her to the high society and she and her husband are renowned philanthropists regarded as veritable sources of blessings for humanity in diverse areas, including education, nation building, religion, sports, healthcare, economy, etc. Early this year, the renowned coupled doled out millions of Naira for a medical outreach to celebrate Chief Okoya’s 86th birthday. Over 4,000 Lagosians in Eti-Osa Local Government Areas and environs benefitted from this medical intervention.

EARLY LIFE

Dr. Shade Okoya who hails from Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, was born in Lagos on April 25, 1977 into the family of the late Alhaji Taju and Alhaja Nimota Adeleye.

Her early education up to the degree levels began in Lagos where she grew up from but Dr. Okoya has mantras which have guided her in the school of life: She believes “The difference between school and life is in school, you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you are given a test that teaches a lesson.”

HEART OF GRATITUDE

If there is one woman who has maintained a deep level of humility and appreciation, that would be Chief Mrs. Okoya, who believes the training and encouragement from her husband has pushed her thus far. “My husband saw the passion and the potential in me when I could not see them myself. He encouraged me to push myself. Everyone needs such a mentor in life, and I am lucky to have found mine in my beloved husband.”