Folorunso Alakija facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Folorunso Alakija
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| Born | 15 July 1951 |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Spouse(s) |
Modupe Alakija
(m. 1976) |
| Children | 4 |
Folorunso Alakija was born on July 15, 1951. She is a very successful Nigerian businesswoman. She is also known as a philanthropist, which means she gives money and time to help others.
Currently, she leads The Rose of Sharon Group as its managing director. She is also the executive vice chairman of Famfa Oil Limited.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Folorunso Alakija grew up in a middle-class family in Nigeria. Her father, Chief L.A. Ogbara, had a large family. Folorunso's mother was his first wife. She belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group from southwestern Nigeria.
When she was ten years old, Folorunso went to the United Kingdom for her schooling. She later attended Muslim High School in Shagamu, Nigeria. After that, she returned to England to study secretarial skills at Pitman Central College in London.
Her Career Journey
Folorunso Alakija began her career in banking in 1974. She worked for 12 years in this field. Her first job was as an executive secretary at Sijuade Enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria.
She then moved to the First National Bank of Chicago. There, she was the executive secretary to the managing director. Later, she became the head of the Corporate Affairs Department at the International Merchant Bank of Nigeria. She also worked as an office assistant in the Treasury Department.
Fashion Business
After her banking career, Alakija decided to study fashion design. She attended the American College in London and the Central School of Fashion. She then started her own fashion company called Supreme Stitches. In 1996, she changed its name to The Rose of Sharon House of Fashion.
She was also the president and a lifelong trustee of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN). This shows her important role in the fashion industry.
Oil Business Success
In May 1993, Folorunso Alakija applied for a special license. This license allowed her company, Famfa Limited, to search for oil. The area was a large block of land, about 617,000 acres, located about 100 kilometers offshore of Nigeria. This area is known as the Agbami Field.
In September 1996, Alakija made an agreement with Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited. She transferred 40 percent of her company's share to them. After they found oil, the Nigerian government claimed a share of the oil block. Alakija disagreed with this claim and eventually won her case.
Achievements and Recognition
Forbes magazine has recognized Folorunso Alakija for her success. She was once listed among the world's 100 most powerful women. As of 2021, she was ranked as the richest woman in Africa.
She has also received honorary degrees from universities. On July 17, 2021, Benson Idahosa University in Benin City gave her an honorary doctorate degree in business administration. In November 2022, Chrisland University in Abeokuta, Ogun State, also honored her. They gave her an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Science (D.Sc) in Business Administration.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Folorunso Alakija cares deeply about helping people. She started the Rose of Sharon Foundation. This foundation helps widows (women whose husbands have died) and orphans (children who have lost their parents). It provides them with scholarships for education and grants to start businesses.
Alakija has also given a skills acquisition center to Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech). This is a higher education school in Lagos. The center helps students learn useful skills for jobs.
Personal Life
Folorunso Alakija married Modupe Alakija in November 1976. They live in Lagos, Nigeria, and have four sons. In June 2017, one of their sons, Folarin Alakija, married Nazanin Jafarian Ghaissarifar.
See also
In Spanish: Folorunsho Alakija para niños
