Nigerian businessman, Farooq Oreagba, popularly known as Mr Steeze after his viral appearance at the 2024 Ojude Oba Festival, has opened up about a painful chapter of his life when he lost a fortune built as a young banker and ended up working as a labourer in England. 

Speaking on Ebuka Obi Uchendu’s MENtality show, co-hosted by singer, Banky W, Oreagba shared how he had become a dollar millionaire at the age of 30, only to find himself doing menial jobs just five years later after losing his banking job.

During the conversation, which centred on wealth, materialism and what truly matters in life, Oreagba used a hypothetical question to challenge Ebuka on how people place value on money.

He asked how much money would mean to him if he were given $10 million, then followed up by asking whether that sum would still hold appeal if accepting it meant having only a single day left to live.

When Ebuka responded that he would rather keep living than take the money under those terms, Oreagba used the moment to explain how his own experience had reshaped his understanding of wealth.

He recalled that after losing his job as a banker while chasing another ambition, he struggled to let go of the lifestyle he had built. He admitted to hustling in different ways just to keep up appearances, noting that his cars remained parked outside even as his finances crumbled behind the scenes.

He described this period as one where his priorities were badly misplaced, saying the pursuit of maintaining an image mattered more to him at the time than his actual circumstances.

Oreagba, who is also a cancer survivor, said the experience ultimately taught him that financial success offers no guarantees and can vanish even after reaching great heights.

He explained that despite becoming a social media sensation following his standout appearance at the Ojude Oba festival, his day to day lifestyle has remained largely unchanged.

Set to turn 60 in the coming weeks, he used the platform to stress that many people spend their lives chasing money and status while overlooking their health, which he now considers to be life’s greatest form of wealth.

Photo Credit: Getty Images