FOLORUNSO ALAKIJA: A Trailblazer?

Folorunso Alakija is a Nigerian billionaire-businesswoman and philanthropist with keen interest for over 2 decades in oil, real estate, fashion and printing businesses.

In support of the collaborative fight against the dreadful coronavirus (Covid-19) facing nations across the world including Nigeria, Folorunso and her husband, Modupe Alakija (chairman, Famfa Oil) donated N1 billion (One billion Naira) to the federal government under the aegis of Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19, and also other relief materials worth millions of naira to some states.

Alakija is the Executive Vice chairman of Famfa Oil and the Group Managing Director of The Rose of Sharon Group comprising The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited, and Digital Reality Prints Limited. As an industrialist, Folorunso has organized many economic empowerment summit for the people.

She also has a majority stake in Day-Spring Property Development Company. Alakija is ranked in 2019 by Forbes as the richest woman in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. Presently, she is the Chancellor of Osun State University, Oshogbo.

The most aspiring attributes of Folorunso are her modesty, humility and love to humanity, and most especially, reverence to her husband in and outside the home. Despite her outstanding accomplishments in life, Folorunso runs her family and marriage with utmost care and respect. In addition, Folorunso untiringly cares for the less-privileged and down-trodden in the society. These exceptional attributes earned Alakija the position of the ‘Personality of the Month’ following our independent opinion polls. Indeed, Dr. Alakija is a trailblazer.

Apart from the N1 billion pledged by her firm, Famfa Oil, her foundation, The Rose of Sharon Foundation disbursed N25,000 to all registered widows and orphans in the foundation from the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country in the wake of coronavirus contagion.

During one of her mentoring and teaching sessions in her marriage seminars, Folorunso informed her audience that she routinely washes her husband’s boxer-shorts since their marriage despite her position in the global arena until few years ago when he entreated her to stop, but she still cooks and serves her husband’s meals in person anytime she is around.

Luckily, her husband as she always testifies, is a man of virtue who reciprocates, appreciates and understands his role as head of the family, and gives all necessary supports to the family. Folorunso is indeed a quintessence of a well-nurtured lady, a role-model for career ladies and wives.

Folorunso & Modupe Alakija

Folorunso was born on 15 July 1951 to the family of Chief L. A. Ogbara in Ikorodu, Lagos state. She attended her Nursery education at Our Ladies of Apostles, Lagos from 1955–1958. At age seven, she travelled to the United Kingdom to continue her primary education at Dinorben School for Girls in Hafodunos Hall in Llangernyw, Wales between 1959 and 1963.

On completion of her primary education, she attended ‘Muslim High School’ in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. She then returned to England for her secretarial studies at Pitman’s Central College, London. Alakija is a holder of honorary doctorate degrees from various universities in and outside the country.

Published By: Admin

Hon. CARL UMEGBORO is a legal practitioner (Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and human rights activist. As an advocate of conflict resolution through ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), he has acquired intensive training and has been inducted into The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) as an Associate. He is a prolific writer and public affairs analyst. Prior to his call to Bar as a lawyer, he has been a veteran journalist and columnist in all national newspapers, and has over 250 published articles in various newspapers to his credit. Barrister Umegboro is also a regular guest-analyst to many TV and radio programme on crucial national issues. He can be reached through: (+234) 08023184542, (+234) 08173184542 OR Email: umegborocarl@gmail.com

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