Popular media personality IK Osakioduwa has shared the reason he changed his surname. He recently revealed that the decision marked a major turning point in his life and career.
Speaking with Nancy Isime on her show, IK told the story of how he visited a military hospital in Ikeja with his father, a serving Nigerian Army officer, and how a routine name registration made him reflect on his life and what the future holds.
According to him, filling the form using his father’s name made him realize that he is no longer a child, and he needed to start making plans to build his own identity.
Citing how he read the bible story of how Jacob changed his name, IK stated that he had to abandon the Obiara surname because of its diabolical history.
“I thought to myself, ‘I’m almost a full-on adult. And I’m still saying I’m so-and-so’s son?’ That moment made me realise I needed to wake up and start building my own identity.
I started researching my own name. Then I discovered my surname is embedded in some deity somewhere. I’m like, what does that mean? No, I’m a Christian. So I was like, okay, I want a different name,” he said.
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IK further noted that it took him 4 years to convince his father to approve the change, stressing that his mother even had to plead on his behalf.
The presenter concluded by saying he eventually chose “Osakioduwa” as his surname, and the thoughtful decision changed his life.
“I know ‘Osa’ is God. ‘Ioduwa’ means God opens the door to wealth. Like… now that’s a name.
That name literally changed my life. My door to wealth opened,” he added.
