Nigerian Billionaire, Folorunso Alakija Reportedly Loses Her Sight ‘Completely’

Nigerian billionaire businesswoman, Folorunso Alakija has reportedly lost her sight due to health complications following a near air mishap.

According to medical sources, the 73-year-old founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil developed vision problems after experiencing a frightening incident while traveling with her husband, Modupe Alakija, Chairman of Famfa Oil.

The distress reportedly caused a sudden spike in her blood pressure, which ultimately affected her eyesight.

Following the incident, Alakija allegedly decided to purchase a new private jet to avoid flying on the same aircraft as her husband. Despite this, her condition worsened until she eventually lost her sight completely.

Sahara Reporters quoted a source close to the matter saying, “She had a near air mishap with her husband on board and her blood pressure reportedly shot up affecting her eyes. 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, a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist, started hosting Christian fellowship meetings in her home around 2004, which later grew into the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International. In 2020, she was officially ordained as an Apostle.

As the founder of Famfa Oil, Alakija holds a major stake in OML 127, a highly valuable offshore oil block located in Nigeria’s Agbami deep-water oilfield. Her immense wealth and influence have made her one of Africa’s richest women.

According to Forbes, her net worth was estimated at $1 billion in 2020. She was ranked as the 87th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes in 2015 and was one of only two African women on the list of the continent’s wealthiest individuals.

Alakija began her career as an executive secretary in Lagos in 1974 after completing secretarial studies at Pitman Central College in London during the 1970s.

Her business empire spans multiple industries, including real estate and philanthropy, with companies such as Famfa Oil Limited, Rose of Sharon Group, and Dayspring Property Development Company Limited under her control.

Beyond her business achievements, Alakija is known for her luxurious lifestyle. She owns multiple private jets, including a Bombardier Global Express XRS and a Bombardier Global Express 6000. These aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and luxury interiors, are registered under Wings of Grace Limited.

Flight records indicate that one of her jets, with the tail number VP-CEO, departed Lagos for an undisclosed location on February 26, while another, VP-CTO, traveled from Lagos to London on February 24.

KanyiDaily recalls that in 2024, Folorunsho Alakija and her husband Modupe Alakija reportedly ended their 30-year-old marriage.