Shade Okoya: I pray my husband of 25 years lives long… he’s my backbone

Shade Okoya, the wife of Rasaq Okoya, the Nigerian billionaire industrialist, has opened up on her 25-year marriage to her husband.

In an interview with Channels TV, the businesswoman emphasised that their relationship is “beyond husband and wife”.

Shade, 47, said although they have been “through a lot together”, she prays for long life for her husband “because he is my backbone”.

“My husband is my everything. When you see both of us together, our relationship is beyond husband and wife. We’ve been through a lot together,” she said.

“I pray he lives many more years because he’s my backbone. I have always given him all the respect and will never tarnish his image. My generation will forever be grateful to him and I pray God will help us to see through what we intend to do for him.”

Shade earlier revealed how she resolves conflicts with her husband. She said she is “never in a hurry to respond” during a misunderstanding with her husband.

She said instead of arguing with her husband, she “listens carefully” to him and tries to “understand his point”.

Rasaq is the owner and founder of Eleganza Group, a leading conglomerate in the manufacturing industry.

Shade, on the other hand, is the managing director and chief executive officer of the company.

She tied the knot with Rasaq in May 1999 at the age of 21. They recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Their union is blessed with four children — namely Olamide, Subomi, Oyinlola, and Wahab