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| Mr. and Mrs. Alakija |
Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, the richest black woman in the world has revealed that she didn't go to a university.
Alakija (with a reported net-worth of $7.3 billion according to Ventures Africa) made the revelation while addressing students of the University of Lagos during the 2014 UN International Youth Day.
She said “All I say is glory to God. So I am 63 and I am not yet done. So you should have no excuses. I never went to a University but I don’t think I have done too badly.
”You do not have to have a University education to be able to make it, but since you do, then count yourselves privileged to have that education as part of the feather in your cap.”
Speaking further, she said “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 rags to riches fairy-tale.
”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.
”I am trying to tell you how I got to where I am, if you want those billions.
”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 had big dreams. 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; I can assure you was not an easy feat.
”I had the 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," she stressed further.
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