''I Never Went To University'' - Africa’s Richest Woman Speaks

 

Africa’s Richest Woman, Folorunsho Alakija, has revealed that  she did not go to a University but that did not stop her from making it in life and achieving her goals.

63-year-old Folorunsho Alakija made this revelation, yesterday, August 27 while giving a motivational speech to the students of the University of Lagos during the 2014 UN International Youths Day in Lagos.
Alakija while motivating the students opened up about her background saying: “I come from Ikorodu, Lagos state. I am married to a dashing young lawyer of 70 years of age and we have four grown up gentlemen and grandchildren. It has not been a rag to riches fairytale. It has not been an overnight phenomenon like some cases which you find here and there all over the world. For as long as I can remember, I had always wanted my own business.
Hard work…am trying to tell you how I got to where I am if you want those billions. Hard work, diligence, persistence…days where you nearly gave up but I chose not to give up.”
It would have been easy to compromise but I chose not to and I stayed focus. I could have stayed a secretary as my father desired according to his plan for me but I had bigger aspirations. I dreamt big. God strengthened me and gave me wisdom. I had a passion and burning desire to succeed. Being a secretary, a banker, a fashion icon, a cooperate promoter and printer, a real estate owner, an oil magnate, that I can assure you was no easy feat. Firm belief that what is worth doing is what doing well or not doing at all.
I took charge of my life with the tools I have shared with you. I chose to become born again at the age of 40.
I chose to make a covenant with God that if he would bless me I would work for him all the days of my life. I chose to hold on to the cross and look up to him every step of the way. Today additional accomplishment includes a wife of almost 40 years, a mother, grandmother, ministry, counseling, outreach, NGO Rose of Sharon Foundation for widows and Author, writer, author of several inspirational books.
All I say to the glory of God. So I am 63 and I am not yet done. So what is your excuse? I never went to a University and I am proud to say so because I don’t think I have done too badly. You do not have to have a University education to be able to make it so count yourselves privileged to have that education as part of the feather in your cap” she said.