Africa’s richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija is alleged to have gone totally blind.
According to SaharaReporters the 73-year-old founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil began experiencing health issues after a near air mishap. She was travelling with her husband, Modupe Alakija, Chairman of Famfa Oil, when the incident caused a spike in her blood pressure.
The incident affected her vision but sources say she has managed the condition for many years.
After the air mishap, Alakija is said to have ordered a new jet to avoid travelling on the same flight as her husband. However, her vision continued to deteriorate until she finally went totally blind.
“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.
The report added that “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.“
Folorunso Alakija is a Nigerian billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist who began hosting a small fellowship in her home around 2004, which eventually grew into the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International.
On her 69th birthday, she was ordained as an Apostle.
She is the founder of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian company with a significant stake in OML 127, a highly profitable oil block located on the Agbami deep water oilfield in Nigeria.
According to Forbes, her net worth was estimated at $1 billion as of 2020. In 2015, she was ranked as the 87th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes and was one of only two African women on Forbes’ list of the richest people in Africa.
Alakija pursued secretarial studies at Pitman Central College in London in the 1970s. She began her career as an executive secretary at Sijuade Enterprises in Lagos in 1974.
Her wealth is reflected not only in her business ventures but also in her 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.
Flight records show that it departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport 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.
On February 20, 2025, Alakija attended the launch of Babangida’s book, A Journey in Service, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The event also served as a fundraiser for the IBB Presidential Library. While Alakija made a donation, she chose not to publicly disclose the amount.
In another development, there have been reports suggesting that Alakija and her husband, Modupe Alakija are separated after over 30 years of marriage. The reports, which emerged around March 2024, indicate that the couple has been living apart due to personal differences.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the family regarding their marital status.