Industrialist and businesswoman Shade Okoya has opened up about her marriage to billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, whom she married in 1999 at the age of 21 while he was 59.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Yoruba, Shade dismissed the notion that she missed out on anything by marrying an older man.
“My husband has been very generous with me. He defends me anywhere. God said this is where I will be. We met each other, and he likes me and didn’t waste time at all. I am happy in my marriage.
“He is far older than me but I don’t think I miss out on anything because I didn’t marry a young man,” she said.
Asked how her family reacted to her decision to marry an older man, the mother of four explained that her father was no longer alive at the time, but her mother and grandmother — the two most important people in her life — supported her choice.
On how they met, Shade noted that Razaq Okoya wasted no time in making his intentions clear.
“He made his intentions known, and he did what was required before we got married,” she said.
Shade, who plays an active role in the Okoya business empire, also shared details about her responsibilities at home.
According to her, despite having domestic staff, she personally takes care of her husband.
She added that Razaq had made it clear before they got married that she would work and not be a housewife.
