Folorunso Alakija is a prominent Nigerian billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist. According to Forbes Magazine, she holds the title of Africa’s wealthiest woman. As of 2020, her net worth was estimated at $1 billion. In 2015, Forbes ranked her as the 87th most powerful woman globally. She has empowered 100 female entrepreneurs worth of N200 million.
She aspires that the funds will aid the recipients in expanding their businesses and paving the way for them to become successful female entrepreneurs in the future.
The assistance was provided through her NGO named Flourish Africa.
Out of a pool of 501 female entrepreneurs who excelled in a business pitch competition during the second batch of the Flourish Africa Business and Life Skills Training Program, 100 recipients were chosen to receive the support.
During the graduation ceremony, Alakija offered her congratulations to the recipients for successfully completing the four-month training program.
Furthermore, she urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired during the training in a productive manner. For those who were granted funds, she encouraged them not only to make a positive impact in their specific industries but also to play a role in the overall advancement of the Nigerian economy.
Forbes reports that Folorunso Alakija’s net worth surpasses $1 billion, solidifying her position as Nigeria’s wealthiest woman for numerous years. Born on July 15, 1951, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Alakija is renowned not only for her immense wealth but also for her role as the founder and managing director of Rose of Sharon, a prominent company.
In the 2022 ranking of Africa’s richest women, Alakija attained the second position, while Isabel Dos Santos from Angola claimed the top spot with a net worth of $2.2 billion.