Popular Nigerian media personality IK Osakioduwa has shared the personal journey behind his decision to change his surname from Obiara to Osakioduwa, a move he believes marked a significant turning point in his life.
In a recent interview, IK revealed that the decision was born out of a moment of deep self-reflection during a visit to a military hospital in Ikeja with his father, a Nigerian Army officer.
“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,” he said.
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This reflection led him to the biblical account of Jacob’s name change, which inspired him to investigate the meaning of his own surname. To his surprise, he discovered that “Obiara” had spiritual ties to a deity, which conflicted with his Christian faith.
“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 explained.
The process, however, wasn’t immediate. IK shared that it took four years to convince his father, despite having silent support from his mother and relying heavily on prayer during the journey.
“I know Osa is God. Ioduwa means God opens the door to wealth. Now, that’s a name. That name literally changed my life. My door to wealth opened,” he added.
