Billionaire Mogul Folorunso Alakija Reportedly Goes Blind Following Health Crisis

Nigerian billionaire businesswoman Folorunso Alakija has reportedly lost her eyesight completely following a health complication.

Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the 73-year-old founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil began experiencing vision problems after a near air mishap. The incident, which occurred while she was traveling with her husband, Modupe Alakija, Chairman of Famfa Oil, allegedly caused a spike in her blood pressure, leading to complications affecting her eyesight.

Following the scare, Alakija reportedly acquired a new private jet to avoid flying with her husband. However, her vision continued to deteriorate until she eventually lost her sight completely.

A source disclosed, “She had a near air mishap with her husband on board, and her blood pressure reportedly shot up, affecting her eyes. She had been struggling with eyesight issues, but instead of seeking medical treatment, she chose to start a church in hopes of divine intervention. Now, she can’t see.”

Alakija, a prominent philanthropist, founded the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International, which began as a small fellowship in her home around 2004. She was ordained as an apostle on her 69th birthday.

As the founder of Famfa Oil, she holds a major stake in OML 127, a highly lucrative oil block in the Agbami deep-water oilfield. Forbes estimated her net worth at $1 billion as of 2020, and in 2015, she was ranked the 87th most powerful woman in the world. She was also one of only two African women featured on Forbes’ list of Africa’s richest people.

Alakija recently made a public appearance at the launch of former Nigerian military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, on February 20, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The high-profile event brought together Nigeria’s political and business elite, including all living former leaders, except for immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, who sent a representative. The launch also served as a fundraiser for the IBB Presidential Library Foundation, raising about N17.5 billion.

At the event, Alakija praised Babangida, saying, “May this book inspire dialogue, understanding, and a deeper appreciation of not just your journey but our nation’s journey.”