The Osun State Government has congratulated billionaire businesswoman Folorunsho Alakija on the occasion of her 69th birthday.
Alakija, who is vice chair of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration company with a stake in Agbami Oilfield, has a net worth of $1billion as at Tuesday, July 14, 2020, according Forbes magazine, placing her at the 20th position on the list of Africa’s billionaires.
“It is such a great honour and delight to celebrate a woman of many substantial and admirable parts; Folorunsho Alakija on the occasion of her 69th birthday,” Osun State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation Funke Egbemode said in a statement on Thursday.
“The State of Osun celebrates a woman whose humility is excellent, a business woman whose generosity is legendary. We celebrate a cultural icon, who through fashion and style has promoted the Nigerian culture on many fronts.
“We celebrate a distinguished philanthropist, who through her foundation has impacted many lives, especially widows and orphans.
“The Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola and the Government of the State of Osun acknowledge your philanthropic efforts in the state. We pray for years of greater accomplishments for you as you advance in age,” the statement added.
Dateline Nigeria reports that Alakija’s first company was a fashion label whose customers included the wife of former Nigerian military president Ibrahim Babangida.
According to Forbes, the Nigerian government awarded Alakija’s company an oil prospecting license in 1993, which was later converted to an oil mining lease. “The Agbami field has been operating since 2008; Famfa Oil says it will likely operate through 2024,” the magazine said.
