Folorunso Alakija

📍 Quick Facts

• Full Name: Folorunso Alakija
• Date of Birth: July 15, 1951
• Place of Birth: Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria
• Nationality: Nigerian
• Profession: Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Fashion Designer
• Known For: Oil & gas investments, philanthropy, fashion, women empowerment
• Net Worth: Estimated in billions (among Africa’s richest women)

---

🌱 Early Life & Education

• Born into a wealthy polygamous family in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
• At age 7, she was sent to the United Kingdom for primary education.
• Studied secretarial studies in London and worked as an executive secretary upon return to Nigeria.
• Later pursued fashion design at the American College in London and Central School of Fashion.

---

🎭 Career Journey

👗 Fashion Industry

• Founded her fashion label Supreme Stitches in the 1980s, which quickly became a household name.
• Rose to become National President of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), promoting Nigerian fashion globally.

🛢️ Oil & Gas

• In 1993, her company Famfa Oil Limited was awarded an oil prospecting license for the offshore Agbami Oilfield, one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater oil fields.
• Famfa Oil, in partnership with global oil companies like Chevron and Petrobras, brought her immense wealth.
• Her entry into oil placed her among the most powerful women in Africa’s energy sector.

📚 Real Estate & Other Ventures

• Diversified into real estate, printing, and philanthropy.
• Continues to be a major voice in Nigeria’s business and philanthropic communities.

---

🌍 Impact & Philanthropy

• Founder of the Rose of Sharon Foundation, supporting widows and orphans through scholarships, business grants, and housing.
• Co-executive director of the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International.
• Major donor to education, health, and women’s empowerment projects in Nigeria.
• Funds programs that uplift young entrepreneurs and women in business.

---

🏅 Achievements & Recognition

• Consistently ranked among Forbes’ most powerful women in Africa.
• Named one of the world’s richest Black women, alongside Oprah Winfrey.
• Recognized by global platforms for her philanthropy and entrepreneurship.
• Received multiple awards for humanitarian impact and women empowerment.

---

❤️ Personal Life

• Married to Modupe Alakija, a lawyer, for over four decades.
• Mother and grandmother, deeply family-oriented.
• Known for her strong Christian faith, which guides her business and charity work.

---

💬 Famous Quote

“I never went to university, but determination and hard work can achieve much more than a certificate.”

---

✅ Conclusion

Folorunso Alakija’s story is one of vision, resilience, and faith. From fashion to oil and philanthropy, she embodies the spirit of Nigerian entrepreneurship. Today, she remains a role model for women, proving that with courage and determination, Nigerians can rise to global heights while giving back to their communities.