Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija Biography / Profile

Folorunso Alakija was born in Ikorodu, Lagos state, Nigeria, on July 15th, 1971 to Chief L. A. Ogbara. She is a dynamic Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist.

Folorunsho Alakija Age

Folorunsho Alakija is 73 years old.

Folorunsho Alakija Early Life

Alakija started started her four years primary education in the United Kingdom at Dinorben School for girls Hafodunos Hall in Llangernyw, Wales. When she returned to Nigeria, she continued with Muslim High School, Sagamu Ogun State. After her early education, Alakija returned to United Kingdom, where she studied secretarial studies at Pitman’s Central School of Fashion. Afterwards she learnt fashion design at the American College, London and the Central School of Fashion.

Folorunsho Alakija Career

Alakija became an executive secretary at Sijuade Enterprises, Lagos, in 1974. When she left the enterprise, she joined Bank of Chicago, where she worked for some years before established her own tailoring company known as Supreme Stitches. She floated a company called Famfa Limited and in May 1993, the companied was allocated an oil prospecting license (OPL) to explore oil on a 617,000-acre block (OPL 216) located in approximately 220 miles south east of Lagos and 70 miles offshore of Nigeria in the Agbami Field of the central Niger Delta.

As National President and lifelong Trustee of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), she left an indelible mark, promoting Nigerian culture through fashion and style. She is also the group managing director of Rose of Sharon Prints and Promotions Limited and Digital Realities Limited which specialized in monogramming, heat/picture transfer and screen printing for promotional and gift items later metamorphosed into Digital Reality Print Ltd.

The company expanded into highly technical digital large format printing and also included a direct imaging paper printing press to coincide with her 60th birthday in July 2011. She oversees the Rose of Sharon Group as the Group Managing Director and is also the Executive Vice Chairman of her family’s oil exploration and production business, FAMFA Oil Limited, seeing to its strategic planning and day to day administration. In addition to these, Folorunso is the Executive Vice Chairman of Dayspring Property Development Company Limited, a real estate company.

Folorunso and her husband founded a house fellowship which has grown to become a full-fledged Christian Ministry known as the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International. She has authored several books including, “Alone with God” (a free annual Christian devotional), “University of Marriage” (A guide for married couple), “Growing with the Hand that Gives the Rose” (her autobiography), “The Cry of Widows and Orphans” (a sensitization material on the plights of widows and orphans), “His Name is….” (A collection of over 3000 names of God), “Folorunso Alakija Speaks -An Inspirational Book for All” (A collection of Mrs. Alakija’s Speeches), “Folorunso Alakija Speaks - An Inspirational Book for Christians” (A collection of the author’s Ministrations), “Wish for it? Pray for It” – (A series of three books containing a collection of her favorite scriptures for Husbands, Wives, and Parents) and her latest book for single men and women, “Window Shop for your Spouse” (A practical guide for choosing the best spouse).

Alakija oversees her businesses and philanthropic enterprises working tirelessly and with boundless energy. She follows her evangelical calling with unbridled devotion, hoping to inspire the public, most especially the youth and women from all walks of life by sharing her values and her motto: “whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well” through motivational talks and speeches. In her speeches, as an encouragement to others, she reveals and introduces her covenant keeping God, even to those in the market place.

Folorunsho Alakija Personal Life

Alakija got married to her husband, Modupe Alakija, in 1976. They live in Lagos, Nigeria with their four sons, their spouses and grandchildren.

Folorunsho Alakija Awards

Alakija has 8 Honorary Degree Awards from universities in Nigeria and the United States of America
She is also the first female Chancellor of a Public University in Africa.
In 2014 Forunsho was listed as the 96th most powerful woman in the world and ranked by Forbes as the richest black woman in the world, replacing Oprah Winfrey.