Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has started an online discussion after describing “oya” as an Igbo word during an interview at the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2026 show for Dazed.
The Udinese goalkeeper attended the fashion event as one of several high-profile guests invited to Paris Haute Couture Week, where luxury fashion houses unveil their latest collections.
During the interview, Okoye was asked to share an Igbo word that everyone should know. 
Without hesitation, he replied: “Oya.”
When asked what it meant, the goalkeeper answered: “Come here.”
The clip quickly began circulating across social media, where many Nigerians questioned his response.
Several users argued that “oya” is a Yoruba expression rather than an Igbo word.
“I need everyone to know he is incorrect,” one user wrote.
Another commented, “I thought ‘come here’ was “bia” in Igbo.”
A third user argued that “oya” is closer to saying “let’s go” or “come on” than “come here.”
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Others pointed out that the expression has become so common in everyday Nigerian speech that many people use it without associating it with any particular ethnic group.
The discussion has become more about language rather than Maduka’s answer. Although “oya” is widely associated with the Yoruba language, it has long been adopted into Nigerian Pidgin and everyday conversations across the country. Today, the expression is commonly used to encourage someone to move, hurry up, continue or get going, regardless of their ethnic background. By contrast, “bịa ebe a” is the standard Igbo word for “come here.”
Born in Germany to a Nigerian father from Anambra State and a German mother, Okoye has often spoken about reconnecting with his Nigerian roots since joining the Super Eagles. His latest interview has now prompted another conversation about language, identity and how words often travel beyond the communities where they first originated.
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