I escaped a family curse by changing my name – IK Osakioduwa

Popular Nigerian media personality, IK Osakioduwa, has opened up about a personal decision that transformed his life, changing his surname from Obiara to Osakioduwa.

During a revealing interview on The Nancy Isime Show, IK shared that the desire to change his name began 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,” IK explained.

The turning point came after he read the biblical story of Jacob’s name change and decided to research his own surname. To his surprise, he discovered that Obiara was associated with a deity — a revelation that clashed with his Christian beliefs.

“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.”

Changing his surname wasn’t an overnight decision. IK said it took four years to convince his father, but with silent support from his mother and persistent prayers, he finally got his approval.

“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.”

The name Osakioduwa, which means “God opens the door to wealth”, has since become a symbol of his success.