Nigeria’s richest woman Folorunsho Alakija reportedly goes blind sequel to previous air travel incident
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigeria’s richest woman Folorunsho Alakija has reportedly completely lost her sight, the consequence of a previous near air mishap that raised her blood pressure when she was travelling with her husband, Modupe, Chairman of Famfa Oil.
Alakija, 73, is the founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil.
SaharaReporters quoted medical sources involved in her care as disclosing that she began experiencing health issues after the flight incident which affected her vision.
Following the incident, Alakija reportedly ordered a new jet to avoid travelling on the same flight as her husband. However, her vision reportedly continued to deteriorate until she ultimately lost her sight completely.
“She had a near air mishap with her husband on board and her blood pressure reportedly shot up affecting her eyes,” one of the sources said.
“She has been having eyesight issues but instead of treating the illness, she chose to start a church to help her. Now she can’t see.”
Alakija, a billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist, began hosting a small fellowship in her $700 million home around 2004, which eventually grew into the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International.
On her 69th birthday, she was ordained an Apostle.
She was a fashion designer catering to society’s crème de la creme before she founded Famfa Oil with a significant stake in OML 127, a highly profitable oil block located on the Agbami deep water oilfield in Nigeria.
Forbes estimated her net worth at $1 billion as of 2020. In 2015, she was ranked the 87th most powerful woman in the world by the publication and was one of only two African women on its list of the richest people in Africa.
Connection To Babangida
Alakija pursued secretarial studies at Pitman Central College in London in the 1970s and began her career as an executive secretary at Sijuade Enterprises in Lagos in 1974.
Her first company was a fashion label Supreme Stitches whose clientele included Maryam, the late wife of former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
During the Babangida junta, her company was awarded an oil prospecting licence in 1993, which was later converted to an oil mining lease.
Alakija’s acquisition of an oil block was reportedly linked to her connection with Maryam Babangida.
Agbami field has been operating since 2008.
Attendance at IBB’s book launch
Alakija was among the political and business elite who attended the launch of Babangida’s book A Journey in Service at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on 20 February 2025.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the Babangida Presidential Library project which generated about N17 billion from the attendees, some of who made their donation public.
Alakija made a donation but chose not to publicly disclose the amount.
Apart from Famfa Oil, she is involved in several other companies, including Rose of Sharon Group and Dayspring Property Development Company Limited.
Her wealth reflects both in her business ventures and taste for luxury.
One of the aircraft linked to her is a Bombardier Global Express XRS (model BD-700-1A10) with serial number 9416, registered to Wings of Grace Limited on November 25, 2011. This jet has the tail number VP-CEO.
According to SaharaReporters, flight records show that the aircraft departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on February 26 for an undisclosed location.
She also owns a Bombardier Global Express 6000 private jet known for its long-range capabilities and luxurious amenities. It offers a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles with a cruising speed of Mach 0.89.
The jet’s cabin is designed for maximum comfort, featuring advanced entertainment systems, fully equipped workspaces, and premium seating. This aircraft is registered under the tail number VP-CTO.
It departed Lagos at 11:34 WAT on February 24 and arrived in London, UK at 4:18 GMT on February 25.
There were reports last year suggesting that Alakija and Modupe separated after over 30 years of marriage. The reports emerged around March 2024 that the couple were living apart due to personal differences.
But there is no official confirmation from the Alakija family regarding their marital status.
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