Alakija was born on July 15, 1951, and is the vice chair of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil company with a stake in the Agbami Oilfield, one of Nigeria’s most productive offshore oil assets.
But her success didn’t happen overnight.
Alakija started her career in banking, working her way up through positions in Nigeria and the UK.
However, her big break came when she shifted her focus to fashion. After studying design at prestigious schools in London, she launched a label called Supreme Stitches, which quickly became a household name in Nigeria.
Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to apply for an oil prospecting license in 1993, which proved life-changing.
Famfa Oil eventually struck oil in the Agbami Field in Nigeria, and despite disputes with the Nigerian government over ownership stakes, Alakija’s company thrived.
Beyond her business success, Alakija has been recognised globally. Forbes has previously listed her among the world’s 100 most powerful women and named her Africa’s richest woman.
Alakija is also known for her philanthropy. Through the Rose of Sharon Foundation, she supports widows and orphans with scholarships and business grants.
She has also contributed to education by donating a skills acquisition centre to Lagos’s Yaba College of Technology.
In her personal life, Alakija is married to Modupe Alakija, and they live in Lagos, Nigeria, with their four sons.