The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Folorunso Alakija

  • Akinrinola and her bold step

    Oluyemisi Akinrinola has not regretted her decision to part ways with Rose of Sharon, a company owned by one of the richest people in Africa, Folorunso Alakija.

    With a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, and a master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos, the massage therapist had the opportunity to grow big in that area as a career path but she decided to set up a skincare company, Princess Naturals.

    Social Circuit learnt that her passion for the beauty industry and desire to overcome her skin challenge made her venture into the business. For a company she started in 2013, she now has distributors in eight cities across Nigeria – Port Harcourt, Abuja, Benin, Kaduna, Ibadan, Ilorin, Enugu and Jos. That’s quite an achievement.

  • We are not in competition with the men- Folorunso Alakija

    We are not in competition with the men- Folorunso Alakija

    Black Africa’s Richest Female Magnate, Folorunso Alakija has said women are not in fierce competition with the men.

    Alakija stated this during a visit to The Nation Headquarters  in Lagos on Thursday which coincided with the commemoration of the International Women’s Day.

    “We are not in competition with the men. Our project, Flourish Africa has come to encourage women to roll up their sleeves, propel and prosper women even in the workplace or whatever it is they choose to do.

    “God created the man to be the head of the family and the women to give the support that he needs. Therefore a man cannot do without the woman. They must cooperate and prosper,” Alakija stated.

    Alakija spoke on her online platform, Flourish Africa which she said is dedicated to supporting the women.

    “Flourish Africa came on board because of the need to support women. Women have come a long way and have cause to be downtrodden, ignored and underrated.

    “A lot has been going on in the lives of women, especially the African woman.Women have been brought up to bear children, however I believe there is more to women than just that,” she said.

     

    Flourish Africa is expected to focus on five core areas which includes inspiration, career development, health, beauty, love and relationships.

     

  • Focus on science, technology, Aregbesola urges varsities

    Focus on science, technology, Aregbesola urges varsities

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has called on Nigerian universities to focus more on science and technology development in the country.

    Aregbesola made the call while delivering a speech at the   10th year anniversary and 6th convocation ceremony of Osun University on Thursday in Osogbo.

    The governor said technology would have changed the world dramatically in a few years.

    According to him, Nigerian universities need to start preparing the youths toward a digital future for the country to remain relevant in the new world order.

    “We need to begin to prepare for a future where so many amazing things will be done technologically.

    “In the next 10 years, technological knowledge would have changed the world dramatically to the extent that cars will begin to drive itself without a driver.

    “In 10 years time, your mobile phone will be able to tell you a lot of things about your health and so on.

    “We need to be prepared for this future as a country,” he said.

    Aregbesola also urged Nigerian universities to engage in research that would impact positively on the society.

    In his opening remark, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Malam Yusuf Alli, said 10 years of the existence of the institution was a period for preparation, adding that now was the time for consolidation.

    Alli, who noted that the university must be committed to science, technology and information technology, pointed out that the institution would not be able to be a global participant if it relies on obsolete and outdated knowledge.

    Earlier in her address, the Chancellor of the university, Dr Folorunso Alakija, expressed delight over the transformation the university was witnessing.

    Alakija, who promised to build a state of the art paediatric hospital for the university, called on all stakeholders to support the institution in charting a new course with a view to attaining greater height.

    The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof.  Labode Popoola, said the institution had made tremendous progress in the last 10 years of its existence.

    Popoola said the university had also graduated 6,493 students.

     

  • Nigeria needs ground-breaking youths – Alakija

    Nigeria needs ground-breaking youths – Alakija

    The solution to the current social economic situation in the country and the continent is the need for a generation of ground breaking, resilient and adaptable young people.

    Executive Director, FAMFA Oil, Folorunsho Alakija stated this at the weekend, during the Grand Finale of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria (AYEEN) 2016, in Lagos.

    She said there is need for youths that can create a great future at the award and celebrate 500 AYEEN beneficiaries.

    AYEEN identifies and empowers the most innovative solutions and economically viable businesses that have the potential and passion in converting the present level of their business to becoming ‘the next big thing’ in Africa regardless of the sector.
    Alakija, who is AYE’s Chief Executive Matron, noted that the transition from education to employment has become a matter of luck and sometimes ‘who you know’. She said private entrepreneurship is the only solution that guarantees the progress of youths and the economy.
    “If we give youths the opportunity the future is going to be bright,” she said.
    She said AYEEN and its programs remains the foremost entrepreneurship programme in Africa, adding that thousands of business owned by its members has benefited from grants including financial literacy
    programs, specialised skills training, soft loans from financial partners and structural support.
    She said the 500 beneficiaries have showcased the characteristics of innovation, passion and research in their business fortunes.
    She encouraged the beneficiaries  to challenge themselves by being relevant and dynamic in the face of the current recession.
    “Use your God given favours to change the lives of others through job creation. We will continue to monitor your business progress and render the necessary support,” she said.
    She added that the beneficiaries should not take likely what they have being empowered with, but should use it judiciously, be focused, look and plan ahead, and not mess around.
    She urged them to touch the lives of others by setting up businesses that will enable them to give back to the society. “They must work hard, build on and enlarge the money, make the best and the most of
    it,” she said.
    Alakija noted that the scale of the African and Nigerian challenges is large, saying that effective collaboration is needed to ensure a sustainable entrepreneurship future.
    She said this year’s AYEEN programme has experienced a massive turn out of entrepreneurs from Borno state, noting that despite their challenges of terrorism and internal displacement, they had the
    courage to apply and request for support.
    According to her, AYEEN has extended its mandate from entrepreneurship to include humanitarian support by the launch of ’empower Borno project’ in partnership with the Borno state
    government.
    She said the initiative would drive entrepreneurship evolvement in the state and change the state of violence. She urged all to support the initiative.
    President/ Founder Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), Smart Francis said the beneficiaries will turn around and transform the economy of the country to drive us out of the current economic recession.
    According to him, entrepreneurs are the strength of Nigeria. “We must use our strength to overcome our weakness; Nigeria has determined entrepreneurs and they must put in energy to develop the nation.”
    He urged government to make entrepreneurship activity its priority, saying it is something that can transform a nation.
    “Government needs to create a system that is friendly to entrepreneurs and one that will enable them strive.”
    He appealed to government and other organisations to partner with AYE to enable them do more.
    He urged entrepreneurs never to give up, adding that if they fail, they should move on because challenges will come and go.
    He said the beneficiaries are given the grants in different sessions, adding that there is no limit to what amount can be given as grant but it depends on what the business is about and how much is needed.
    He said the business must be innovative, have the ability to move Nigeria forward and create jobs.
    AYE Vice President, Ibada Ahmed said AYEEN identifies exceptional innovations in the African continent and source for innovative, dynamic and economically viable businesses. She said the 500
    beneficiaries would create more jobs in Nigeria.

  • Folorunso Alakija explores Real Estate

    Folorunso Alakija explores Real Estate

    The richest African woman, Folorunsho Alakija, is not resting on her oars to make more wealth. The group managing director of The Rose of Sharon Group which consists of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited and Digital Reality Prints Limited and the executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited is investing heavily in real estate.

    Among her numerous business investments is a real estate company called Dayspring Property Development Company Limited, which is currently developing her ongoing project, Rose of Sharon Towers. The building is located in Victoria Island, Lagos, with a magnificent view of Kuramo Waters and the Atlantic Ocean. There are three residential floors consisting 32 individual apartments of one, two and three bedrooms, all constructed to international standard and luxury finish.

    Sources also revealed she is investing a minimum of N29 billion on another property project in the Federal Capital Territory.

    Folorunsho Alakija’s first company was an upscale fashion label that catered to Nigeria’s elite including the wife of the former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, the connection which later paid off.

  • Ladi Alakija now a proud father

    Ladi Alakija now a proud father

    LADI, son of billionaire and business woman, Folorunso Alakija, and his wife, Lolade, have welcomed their first child. The couple had their baby girl in the United States of America. Ladi and Lolade got married in August 2012 in Lagos and London respectively. Lolade Alakija, nee Cardoso, is one of the children of Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, a former Lagos Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget and now Chairman, Citibank.

  • Folorunso Alakija denies governorship ambition

    Folorunso Alakija denies governorship ambition

    It is no more news that the posters of one of Africa’s richest women, Folorunso Alakija, adorned some strategic places in Lagos last week. In fact, unlike speculative politicians who keep to their chests the position they would be vying for in a coming election, the message on the Alakija poster was specific and direct: she would be vying for the seat presently occupied by Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State.

    As would be expected, the subject became a big media issue and many asked what could have inspired such an ambition from a woman known for her enterprise and wealth. But the Forbes Magazine-profiled billionaire businesswoman has reached for her pen and vehemently denied the rumoured ambition. She also did not have kind words for those who had gone to town with her posters.

    She reiterated her dedication to her “divine calling” to look after widows and orphans through her Rose of Sharon Foundation.

    “God has not called me into politics and I have never been involved in politics. Please ignore whatever you may have read portraying me as a governorship aspirant,” she said.

     

  • I don’t want to be Lagos Governor -Alakija

    I don’t want to be Lagos Governor -Alakija

    Top business woman, Mrs Folorunso Alakija, says she has no ambition of becoming Lagos State governor.

    Reacting to her posters and fliers in Ikorodu and other parts of the state announcing her as a governorship aspirant, Mrs Alakija said: “This is not true and I hereby confirm that I have no intention.”

    She disassociated herself from “any persons or group of persons, posters or fliers in circulation about me contesting for governorship.”

    She said she has been “paying attention to my calling from God to look after widows and orphans through The Rose of Sharon Foundation and I am also in service most importantly to God’s work as a minister of his Word through His Ministry committed to us as the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International. God has not called me into politics and I have never been involved in politics.”

  • Marriage on the card for Alakija’s son

    Marriage on the card for Alakija’s son

    Barring any last-minute change in plans, the family of one of Africa’s richest women, Folorunso Alakija, will be shaking the Nigerian social scene with an A-list soiree any moment from now. This is because another wedding bell is ringing for the family. Their son, Rotimi Alakija’s relationship with Kike Fajemirokun, is about the most talked about romance on Victoria Island, Lagos and far away London where the duo have been stepping out at A-class events.

    One of such events was a shopping evening recently hosted by Kola Karim to celebrate polo with leading Argentine polo player, Nacho Figueras, who is rated as one of world’s top 100 polo players and nicknamed the David Beckham of Polo.

    Tales about their affection have been told at social circles in London and Lagos. Like Siamese twins, Rotimi and Kike have been so wrapped to each other to leave just enough space for breathing. The lovebirds were said to have met in the United Kingdom, while Kike attended University of Lancaster and Rotimi schooled at the University of the West of England, Bristol, where he bagged his first degree in Marketing before proceeding to the University of Surrey for his Master’s degree in Communications and International Marketing.

    An Executive Director at Famfa Oil Limited, owned by his parents, Rotimi is also a director at Dayspring Property Limited, an upscale real estate company based in Lagos. His passion for polo, rugby and car racing is public knowledge.