Folorunsho Alakija: Her entrepreneurial journey to becoming Africa's richest woman

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Folorunsho Alakija’s travel is simply a singular communicative of growth, from her aboriginal days arsenic a secretary to becoming Africa’s richest pistillate and a starring unit successful oil, fashion, and philanthropy. Her way is marked by resilience and crisp concern acumen, shaping a bequest that continues to animate generations.

Folorunsho Alakija posing for a photograph  smilingFolorunsho posing for a photograph successful a plain and acheronian inheritance (L). Folorunsho posing for a photograph portion seated successful a light-coloured manager (R). Photo: @alakijaofficial connected Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Folorunsho serves arsenic enforcement vice seat of Famfa Oil Limited and the group managing manager astatine The Rose of Sharon Group.
  • She has achieved billionaire presumption and is consistently ranked among Africa’s richest women by Forbes.
  • In the 1990s, Folorunsho secured a profitable lipid licence done her company, Famfa Oil Limited.
  • Folorunsho founded the Rose of Sharon Foundation connected 23 May 2008, arsenic a faith-based NGO.

Profile summary

Full nameFolorunsho Alakija
GenderFemale
Date of birth15 July 1951
Age73 years aged (as of June 2025)
Zodiac signCancer
Place of birthIkorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria
State of originLagos State
Current residenceLagos, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
EthnicityAfrican
TribeYoruba
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourDark brown
FatherL.A. Ogbara
Siblings51
Marital statusMarried
HusbandModupe Alakija
Children4
SchoolOur Ladies of Apostles,Dinorben School for Girls,Muslim High School
CollegePitman's Central College,American College successful London and the Central School of Fashion
ProfessionBusinesswoman, philanthropist, author, erstwhile manner designer
Net worth$1 billion
Instagram@alakijaofficial
X@alakijaofficial

Folorunsho Alakija's biography

Born successful Ikorodu, Lagos State, Folorunsho is the girl of Chief L.A. Ogbara, who had 8 wives and fifty-two children. Her parent was his archetypal wife. Folorunsho's entrepreneurial spirits were inherited from her parents, who were entrepreneurs.

The Nigerian entrepreneur's begetter was a dynamic businessman progressive successful textiles, leather sandals, stockfish, and assorted ventures, including existent property and stocks. Her parent was a cloth merchant who operated textile shops.

Folorunsho Alakija's property is 73 years arsenic of June 2025. She was calved connected 15 July 1951, and her zodiac motion is Cancer.

Folorunsho Alakija's world journey

Alakija began her acquisition travel successful 1955 astatine Our Lady of Apostles Nursery School successful Lagos. At the property of seven, she moved to the United Kingdom and attended Dinorben School for Girls astatine Hafodunos Hall successful Llangernyw, Wales, from 1959 to 1963.

Facts astir  Folorunsho AlakijaTop-5 facts astir Folorunsho Alakija. Photo: @alakijaofficial/Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Original

Alakija aboriginal returned to Nigeria and enrolled astatine Muslim High School successful Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria successful 1963. After completing precocious school, she went backmost to the United Kingdom for secretarial studies astatine Pitman's Central College successful London.

The philanthropist aboriginal pursued manner plan astatine the American College successful London and the Central School of Fashion. She besides earned a master’s grade successful Business Administration from the CWC School for Energy, London, successful 2006.

How did Folorunsho Alakija get rich?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Forbes, and Pulse Nigeria, Folorunsho Alakija's nett worthy is allegedly $1 billion.

Folorunsho Alakija built her wealthiness done strategical entrepreneurship, bold investments, and relentless ineligible determination—primarily successful Nigeria’s lipid sector. According to her LinkedIn profile, she began her vocation successful 1973 arsenic an enforcement caput astatine Sijuade Enterprises, based successful Lagos.

After moving for a twelvemonth astatine Sijuade Enterprises, Folorunsho near to go an enforcement caput astatine International Merchant Bank (Nig.) Ltd., wherever she worked from 1974 to 1985. She aboriginal served arsenic managing manager of Supreme Stitches for sixteen years, from 1986 to 2002.

Folorunsho Alakija astatine  Iko Hotel and Suites successful  Lagos, NigeriaFolorunsho Alakija attends the Diamond Collection By Folake Majin Fashion Show. Photo: Bennett Raglin (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Since September 1991, the entrepreneur has served arsenic the Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, based successful Lagos, Nigeria. She has besides been a Life Trustee of FADAN since 2001 and the Group Managing Director of the Rose of Sharon Group since 2002.

In 2004, the Nigerian philanthropist took connected the relation of Vice Chairman astatine Dayspring Property Development Company. She besides became the Managing Director of Digitalreality Print Limited successful 2006.

As a philanthropist, Alakija founded the Rose of Sharon Foundation, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of widows and orphans, successful May 2008. Additionally, successful August 2016, she launched Flourish Africa—an online assemblage wherever young women uplift and animate 1 another.

Folorunsho is besides an author. She has written respective books, specified arsenic Alone With God, University of Marriage, and The Cry of Widows and Orphans. Alakija became the archetypal pistillate chancellor of a nationalist assemblage successful Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa erstwhile she was appointed Chancellor of Osun State University successful 2016.

Inside Folorunsho Alakija's house

Folorunsho Alakija astatine  Roche Bobois successful  New York CityFolorunsho Alakija attends the United Nations General Assembly Week African Fashion and Philanthropy Reception. Photo: Cynthia Edorh (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The entrepreneur owns a mansion reportedly valued astatine $700 million, making it 1 of the astir costly residential homes successful Nigeria. Featuring astir 400 rooms, the location is located successful Ikoyi, Lagos. It was built by the German steadfast Julius Berger and designed by Adeniyi Coker Consultants Limited.

The mansion features a movie theatre, crippled room, backstage bar, gym, aggregate eating halls, and spacious lounges, on with beautifully maintained lawns, vibrant gardens, and an elegant outdoor excavation area. It features advanced, bulletproof information and a windowless plan to forestall intrusions.

What happened to Folorunsho Alakija?

In precocious February 2025, rumours circulated that Folorunsho Alakija had mislaid her eyesight aft a near-air-travel incidental reportedly triggered by a abrupt spike successful humor pressure. Her lack from nationalist and societal media appearances successful the pursuing weeks fuelled speculation among the media and her followers.

However, connected 8 March 2025, during International Women's Day, the entrepreneur broke her soundlessness via her Instagram page. Although she didn't remark connected her health, she shared an empowering connection for women. To date, neither Alakija nor immoderate authoritative root has confirmed these claims.

Who is Folorunsho Alakija's husband?

Folorunsho Alakija astatine  a conferenceFolorunsho Alakija giving a code astatine a conference. Photo: @alakijaofficial (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Folorunsho is joined to Modupe Alakija, a Nigerian lawyer and businessman. Folorunsho and Modupe archetypal met astatine a enactment successful Surulere. They were successful a narration for 3 and a fractional years earlier getting joined connected 12 November 1976.

In 2016, during an interrogation with The Guardian, Folorunsho spoke highly of her husband. She said:

He is similar a harmless tiger- beardown and proud- but with a large brushed heart, oregon amended still, a bosom of gold. I knew that my tiger would ever fulfill his God-given relation arsenic caput of the household arsenic champion helium can.

The mates has four sons: Folarini, Rotimi, Dele, and Ladi.

FAQs

  1. Who is Folorunsho Alakija? She is simply a Nigerian philanthropist, businesswoman, author, and erstwhile manner designer.
  2. How aged is Folorunsho Alakija? She is 73 years aged arsenic of June 2025.
  3. What is Folorunsho Alakija's authorities of origin? Her authorities of root is Lagos State.
  4. Is Folorunsho Alakija blind? There were rumours successful February 2025 that she had mislaid her sight. However, she hasn't confirmed nor denied the speculations.
  5. Does Folorunsho Alakija person children? She has 4 sons: Folarini, Rotimi, Dele, and Ladi.
  6. Is Folorunsho Alakija married? The Nigerian philanthropist is joined to Modupe Alakija.
  7. What is Folorunsho Alakija's nett worth? Her nett worthy is allegedly $1 billion.

Folorunsho Alakija is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and erstwhile manner designer. With resilience, faith, and strategy, she has made a lasting interaction successful fashion, oil, and philanthropy. Folorunsho is the vice seat of Famfa Oil and is the laminitis of the Rose of Sharon Foundation.

Legit.ng precocious published Juliet Okonkwo's biography. Juliet is simply a British-Nigerian businesswoman celebrated for her divers ventures and committedness to philanthropy. She is the managing manager of the Five-Star Group, Emy-Star Limited, and Emy Cargo Limited.

Juliet Okonkwo was calved successful Mbaise, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. She is besides wide known for being the woman of Emeka Okonkwo (E-Money), a celebrated Nigerian billionaire and euphony executive. Learn much absorbing facts astir her successful her bio.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, transcript exertion astatine Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

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