Folorunso Alakija’s name rings with quiet strength across boardrooms, pulpits, and communities, not because she sought fame, but because she has consistently walked in purpose.
From her early days as a secretary to becoming one of the wealthiest and most influential women in Africa, her journey is one marked by resilience, grace, and a deep sense of calling.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, she began her life in a modest Nigerian home, one where faith and values were non-negotiable.
At just ten years old, she was sent to school in Wales, a brave move for a young girl from West Africa. That early exposure to discipline and independence shaped her worldview and sowed seeds of global ambition.
Her professional path began in 1974 at Sijuade Enterprises, where she worked as a secretary. She later joined the now-defunct First National Bank of Chicago, steadily building a reputation for diligence and excellence.
But it was her creative spirit that soon led her to fashion. She trained in London and returned to Nigeria to start Supreme Stitches, a fashion house that became a household name and later evolved into the Rose of Sharon House of Fashion.
Through her designs, she styled First Ladies and society’s elite, but even then, her gaze was fixed on something greater.
That next chapter came in 1993 when she secured the oil prospecting license for a 617,000-acre block in the Agbami deepwater field. Her company, Famfa Oil Limited, would later engage in a high-profile legal battle with the Nigerian government, and win, retaining a significant stake in one of the country’s richest oil fields.
It was a landmark victory, one that redefined resource ownership in Africa and solidified her position as a business leader of uncommon courage.
In 2008, she established the Rose of Sharon Foundation to support widows and orphans. Through scholarships, housing, and grants, she has directly impacted over 4,000 lives, offering not just aid but dignity.
In 2016, she was appointed Chancellor of Osun State University, becoming the first woman in Africa to serve as Chancellor of a public university.
And on 15th July 2020, she was ordained an apostle, taking up full spiritual leadership of Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International, a ministry she had nurtured for years.
The ministry’s vision is to restore the glory of the Lord’s people, release those in bondage, heal the sick and the broken-hearted, and uphold marriages toward effective nation-building. To her, healing hearts and building families is just as important as building businesses.
She has authored 17 books, ranging from spiritual devotionals to guides on marriage and leadership.
Titles like “Alone with God and University of Marriage” reflect her personal experiences, grounded theology, and unwavering belief that transformation begins within.
Her accolades span industries and borders, from being named one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women to receiving the Global Entrepreneurs Award in the UAE and being honored with the Distinguished Achiever Award by Eagle Awards Africa.
Still, she carries these recognitions with humility, never allowing titles to overshadow her message of faith and service.
Folorunso Alakija is a wife to Modupe Alakija, mother to four sons, grandmother, mentor, and a pillar to many. She is one of Nigeria’s most respected figures, not because she is loud, but because her life speaks loudly.
Every chapter of her journey, whether in oil, ministry, fashion, or philanthropy, has been written with conviction, prayer, and a heart fully yielded to God.
This is not a story of wealth alone. It is a story of obedience, legacy, and unwavering belief that lives can be changed when purpose leads the way.
Folorunso Alakija’s name may be etched into global business history, but it is her faith and her love for humanity that truly define her.
