Folorunsho Alakija was born on July 15, 1951, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria to Chief L. A. Ogbara and Mrs. Oyindamola Ogbara. Her father was a prominent Nigerian lawyer, while her mother, Mrs. Oyindamola Ogbara, was a businesswoman.
She was born into a large wealthy muslim family consisting of 52 children and 8 wives.
She studied at Dinorben School for Girls in Llangernyw, Wales, United Kingdom, and the Muslim High School, Sagamu, Ogun State for her primary and secondary education. Upon graduation from high school, she returned to England where she enrolled at Pitman’s Central College, London, to study secretarial studies.
In 1974 she worked at Sijuade Enterprises as an executive secretary as well as at First National Bank of Chicago (now FCMB) before establishing her first fashion firm, Supreme Stitches (later renamed Rose of Sharon House of Fashion in 1996).
In 1984, she returned to the United Kingdom for a one-year fashion design course.
Before venturing into the oil industry in the early 1900s, Alakija made blouses for the wife of the ex-military leader, Maryam Babangida.
She got married to Modupe Alakija in November 1976 and they have four children together. However, the couple announced their separation on March 11th, 2024.
She was ordained as an Apostle on 15th July 2020 and became the General Overseer of a non-denominational ministry called Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International.
She is the author of several books, including her autobiography.
