IK Osakioduwa Reveals Why He Changed His Surname From Obiara: “It Changed My Life”

Popular Nigerian media personality, IK Osakioduwa, has opened up about the deeply personal journey that led him to change his surname from Obiara to Osakioduwa—a decision he says transformed his life.

Speaking during an interview on The Nancy Isime Show, IK recalled that the thought of changing his name first struck him during a visit to a military hospital in Ikeja with his father, who was a Nigerian Army officer.

“I thought to myself, I’m almost a full-on adult. And I’m still being introduced as so-and-so’s son?” he said. “That moment made me realise I needed to wake up and start building my own identity.”

The turning point, he revealed, came after reading the biblical story of Jacob’s name being changed. Motivated by that story, he decided to research the meaning of his surname, Obiara. To his surprise, he found that it was linked to a deity—something that clashed with his strong Christian faith.

“I discovered my surname is embedded in some deity somewhere. I was like, what does that mean? No, I’m a Christian. So I thought, I want a name that reflects what I believe,” he said.

The decision to change his surname wasn’t easy. It took IK four years to convince his father, but with quiet support from his mother and unwavering prayers, he eventually received his dad’s blessing.

“I know ‘Osa’ means God, and ‘Ioduwa’ means God opens the door to wealth. Now, that’s a name,” he said. “That name literally changed my life. My door to wealth opened.”

Since adopting the name Osakioduwa—meaning “God opens the door to wealth”—IK has seen it become a symbol of his personal and professional growth, marking a new chapter in his journey of faith and identity.