Nigerian business tycoon, Folorunsho Alakija, has said going to the university was not her destiny as she was able to achieve her dreams without a degree.
Alakija, one of the richest black women in the world, said this on Thursday at the Excellence in Leadership program, an annual event organised by Daystar Christian Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.
The founder of Rose of Sharon motivated the audience by saying that she never allowed a lack of university education to suppress her dreams and ambition.
“If I had the opportunity of going to the university, maybe I would have come out with a second class upper or lower but that didn’t happen; that wasn’t to be my destiny,” she said.
I would have loved to go to the university as we all know that university education is good but some of us who have not gone, it is not the end of the world.”
Alakija said she was able to attain her present position because she was determined and ready to pay the price that came with all the challenges she’s had to surmount.
“Having put my foot in the door, I decided I was not going to turn back”, she noted, revealing that when she had to file a lawsuit against the federal government for taking 50 out of her 60 percent equity, she remained determined.
The case which took 12 years to reach a conclusion was a matter of determination, she said. Alakija said she her person has been subjected to series of misconceptions due to the ignorance of people who don’t know her story.
The oil magnate noted that she is a product of hard work, sweat, tears, and tenacity, stressing that she’s not an overnight success.
“A lot of things have been said about me, some say I sold my way to the top; I remember that the headline of one of the national dailies in the country once said ‘Hairdresser given an oil block’. So I even became a hairdresser, one of the many names I was given.”
She encouraged participants at the conference to believe in themselves as it would be easier for others to believe in such people; she added that she believed in herself while moving from fashion designing to an unfamiliar terrain.
Indeed she is.
I alwys say “ts never too late”!
U did not HV a degree but u have our oil block ,that one nor pass degree god will judge all of u that put us in this mess
Hater spotted ?
What you need to succeed in life is not a degree but a determination to succeed, together with hardwork and prayer
Thank you ma,God bless you for such powerful comment
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
I still maintain my stand on this matter. The main education that one need to succeed is a qualitative and unhindered basic education. Then, with determination, hard work and persistent prayer to the Almighty God, divine guidance will enable one to discover his/her areas of interest, aptitude and ability.
Your children are they not degree holders? Destiny are not the same
Isn’t not taut that rules the government before, people that didn’t go to school.
That was then not now
anyone still depending on kpali is still dreaming’ by the time he wakes up he will be working under his friend who’s a school drop out” be ambitious and have a scale of preferences in planning ur life! #handworkpays
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
I’m not against education but depending solely on your degree without an alternative is what am against” by the way you can’t compare these wealthy kids to an average graduate on the street cos their parents already has their lives plan out even before they were born’ if wee must beat them we need to double our efforts” this my message
Those kids u are talking about mostly end up as idiots.
NA WHO U EEP?
School is very important…. Don’t be deceive, u have to be educated.. No matter what you want to be come in life, Der re some places, some people u can’t meet with been fully educated!!!!.. If u have d opportunity plz go!!!!
If you want to be a true certified doctor. You shouldn’t school in Nigeria.
Y not?
do u know how many world best real practical doctors Nigeria has produced!!!!!, many didn’t even school in top class University in Nigeria!!!!
Go & do ur research!!!!!
I know of a lecturer who operated a patient without light,..he so good dat he knows all d layers just by touching dem…. U think all does ones dat use machine for everything re doctors!!!!!
Dats how ignorant people like u go about sayn nonsense about Nigeria!!!!!!
Those who ve gone to skol wat ve dey cum out wit?
Odigie Eric Edoze Balogun, school doesn’t guarantee u success, but WAT u make use of wat u have learnt in school!!!!
So many graduates today don’t want to wat as even a cleaner, or sell pure water, forgetting d company u want to work as d GMD, started small & by God’s grace it now mega!!!!
The answer to all is this when we die our certificate dey make person get work for heaven of cos not, our certificate our children fit inherit am and use am work of cos not. Education is important but not a do or die thing, d world we are now money answers all thing, a graduate will enter a place he won’t be recognize but wen a person with money enters hailing, praises and so on will Folo. I believe God has everything planned for everyone, many succeed without bn a graduate and also many made it through bn a graduate, let who d cap fit wears it
Education is not about d certificate!!!!!!!
God has a plan,… Wats ur own plan
Education is 1 major tin u should have!!!!
I have gotten opportunity in d last few months to work in a very good salary paying organization, @lest to save money bcs am a business personnel, but I missed it bcs I was not ready, fit for d job, I missed my opportunity!!!!!!!.. I’ll I now blame God / myself…… Opportunity can come @any time, it can come b4,after,/years after graduation Vee Christopher
My best advice for anybody is, go to school, learn handwork, develop ur talent, work with d Lord & u shall succeed!!!!
Mercy Education is not classroom and that is why you see Nigeria is in the deep shit you guys find yourself even though you ship out millions of graduates every year. True education is Skill acquisation. This woman made her mark as a fashion designer(skill) she was very good she work for kings and queens(first lady) and hence got the oppurtunity to get herself an oil block. Many extremely wealthy men dropped out of the classroom to pursue their dreams.
Ikenna Adikwu, u re d 1 in deep shit, not my country Nigeria!!!!
Ikenna Adikwu u nailed it
Ikenna Adikwu, education starts from d classroom, & perfect outside d classroom
U be deceiving urselves !!! Don’t go to school, don’t even send ur children to school…. Dats ur business
Mercy omoye is education is not for certificate why is it that if u are to do a four year course and you dropped out of schl the 3rd year maybe bcos of one thing or the other why is it that the 3 years spent is more or less useless. Everybody should focus and face dia dream schl or no schl focus & determination is d koko where alakija has entered pipo she has dinned with many pipo with degree had not
Just remember dat even sale requires, @lest SSC & computer literate . Even some big business establishment go for only degree holder,.. Lol… So don’t cry if Der is totally nothing, no place for uneducated people on planet Earth!!!!! ?????????
Vee Christopher, if u want to go far & be successful, meet standard people…… Be educated!!!!!
Education is not paper!!!!… Dat paper is just a prove dat ur educated… But most youth focus on just d paper with having wat d paper contains in dem!!!!
I do u think some big men, run back to school!!!!!! even in Der old age!!!! ????u won’t understand
How can you convince a child to go to school when we have rich criminals and poor graduates in the society???…
The certificate is jst a figure head the main thing is God’s grace(for the poor) and connection (for the rich)…thats just it.
Long leg na everything bros
From military to politics to everywhere
Y do u people always have issues, 1 bad tin or d other about rich people!!!.. Do u enjoy been poor!!!!!!?
School it’s for learning!!!!!…. School doesn’t guarantee anybody success!!!!.. But WAT u do with wat u learnt from school is wat matters!!!!!!
I have seen people with opportunities, but we’re unable to make use of it bcs dey lack education!!!!!
If u go to school, & learn shoemaking, ur level will be different from a guy who just learnt shoemaking with good education!!!!
Mercy a blind girl askinq a two eyed man if he enjoys blindness…lol i laugh at u my dear…ask ur self this question ”did the person who invented college go to college before hs invention???” i see u need some views tonight
But then u could still go to school and learn how to shut ur mouth up and not jump on people’s comment all the time!
Desmond Bobby, that’s a bit harsh u know
Am sorry ma…but i couldnt be so humble for someone to jump on me that way.
It’s ok my dear, thanks for your understanding
You na my person already nw..enjoy
Bobby Don provoke, I just dey pass shall hope no hold up
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
Nor mind her,na too much of oil block money dey worry herGeorge Udochukwu
Loveth
Bobby Afar,u Don buy the orobo
Somethinq wey i dn buy since…u no qree come house na
419 guy,hope u Don hear from ehiz
I no even know where that quy shuuk head since walahi
How you go know yaba don give u money na dem don blind ur eyes
Hahahahah
Loiz funny guys I greet una
U can’t say u want to be a doctor, & ur saying u need prayers & hardwork!!!!!…. Even God used educated men. In Bible days, dey had Der own standard of education den!!!
God didn’t use only educated men.
The Bible confirmed that.
Dey may not be PhD degree holders, but dey were education to a good standard
U can still go back to school. Don’t underestimate the importance of education. Being a literate person is the best thing that can ever happen to anyone cause it’s not all about reading and writing but manner and character. Buhari is a president, does that make him fulfilled?
Not at all
Hahaha…if you ask me ..na who I go ask kwanu?
Being educated does not all boils down in going to school….education can be achieved in so many ways dear.
Define literacy ?
The ones that have the highest degrees can’t sit or talk where she’s sits or talk
Everyone doesn’t have to go to school. Besides our educational system in Nigeria is as good as not going to school.
Great mama! what God wants u to be u will be
Are u na advising us nt to go to sch
God never attach wealth with a degree……..
DATS UR OWN CUP OF TEA, OR AV U FORGOTING DAT WE ALL AV DIFFENT DESTINY, WAT FAVOUR’S U MIGHT NOT FAVOUR OTHERS. NOT BY UR ABILITY ITS GOD’S GRACE.
I will always say it. Certificate have nothing to do with success. Certificate can take u to anywhere but what you have upstairs retain you there. Go to school but have focus. Be a goal setter/getter. Have a dream but don’t dream rather face reality finally above all put God at first.
U re very rite
Mama u try no be small. It’s not all about xul, besides babes wey dey d so called xul don mess up big time and at d end nofin to show for.
I thank the God almighty for you with all your achievement. But one question please. How meny poor family have you touched there life or remove sorrow. If you do, please try more.
Education OR NO Education what’s matter is DAT one succeed in life everything na mind set. Hard work pays.u are studying another persons theory . for me whatever u specialized on dat pays you big simply mean u are educated in DAT field.
Well said
Because she made it.What is she campaigning about?Why did her kids all studied abroad?
I didn’t say that education is bad . am telling you reality of life my grand mother build an modern up stair with tomatoes business she train all of her children .she did not even graduated from primary school but she can read and write .even igbo language how many of our university graduate can read their mother’s language.. For me l drop of our university two years ago ,the factual truth is DAT l made lt young. Is mind set my my dear just try to the best in your field and pray for God grace .
George Udochukwu. Yes is good to be educated …..What she is saying is that education doesn’t make u rich
Go and rest…. what did u give to obasanjo in return for ur richness???
Tell people the whole real story…
Education is light, but with this present situation the people that perpetuate crimes all over the world are PhD holder in all disciplines. What any one of us need is common sense
Every woman get natural degree. If u know what i mean.
Well it may work for you and may not work for another person
Remenber some will not go to school but can speak fluent english
Why some graduates cant defend them self
So i say if Education is for you go for it if business is for you gran it
Evry thing we do depends on how we hustle for it
So i say eny thing you are doin keep calm run your race
And never do that others are doin
#Run_your_race
U Guys re completely getting her wrong, it’s not as if she is in support of illiteracy ,I think she was only just giving her own gist of her growing up in life
All De rich pipo I knw didn’t gotto skul yet mums sending me to skul…
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study??
Do you need degree to own oil block ??
They want to motivate … Do it the right way Biko …
Is it not Nigeria again ???
We know now ….
Even president no get degree join …
Every second billionaire is into oil … Unna no dey produce groundnut ?? Shea butter ??
Motivation 101
Achiever
EDUCATION GIVES YOU MORE knowledge
Hardwork gives you money.
See…..see…!!!…,
U see yam!!!
Madam forgot to mention that she had the right connection… educated or not…u got to be connected…
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
Dats d grace of GOD.
Isabel dos Santos is the richest African woman and not folorunsho
That’s impressive but in your own time.not these present generation that education matters a lot.
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
Of course ,use what you have,to get what you want.Abuja connection
So any woman dat is successful did abuje runs abi!!!!! Nonsense mentality!!!
Thats destiny for her…i know some pple want to be like her but ask urself am i destined to be so
To make it in life not by University degree…. Isaac Newton,Bill Gate,Aliko Dangote,Albert Eistein are all school drop outs… Lack of degree doesn’t make u an illiterate,millions of ppl av dat degree and are as good as bus conductore (I mean confirm ”agberos”)
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
Bcos she can afford it
na God knw the Rich person no be by education its destination just try ur best try make impossible be possible
Good to hear from you
But ur kids got degree?
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
If u have that zeal y not money flows and when money flows school becomes stress free..
I LIKE THAT DREEM WOMAN NICE ONE
Please don’t misunderstand her, that she is not a degree holder does not mean that she is not educated.
If you like go school if you like don’t school my own advice for you is that don’t follow other people’s footstep, and whatever it is you find yourself doing, do it well.
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
She made it in life without University certifiate then why didn’t she stop her children education at the level she stopped.Why did she sends all of them abroad to study???
Even Buhari did so,success is not by college or certificate, its not by the grace that covers you despite your religion
Please keep quiet and stop leading others astray
Who you help?
Hope efcc will not come for you ma
Alakija was born with a silver spoon. She had everything she wanted. If she needed a degree like me to get a good job, save up to start a business, she will get one. On a second thought, Why did she send her children to school?
OBJ degree
But Obasanjo said he is de one dat made u a Billionaire. ..
Nah school them the use deceive us here..gone are the days when certificate is well appreciated.most ppl who didn’t go to school are actually the great thinkers of creativities..
The name ALAKIJA alone is dream come true, so you people should not fool us. The question is how many people have you been able to change their life style.
Just remember dat even sale requires, @lest SSC & computer literate . Even some big business establishment go for only degree holder,.. Lol… So don’t cry if Der is totally nothing, no place for uneducated people on planet Earth!!!!!
Therefore?,…mk we no go school? Or drop out?
Lucky you ma but things were easier then.
There were fewer politicians wt greed then.
The oil blocks were shared by the military dat led us then.
But now there are tighter roads to get things done.
Many pple are jostling for fewer resources and dis make education a fair deal for people without rich parents or husbands/ military/ political connections.
Also without degree holders, directly and indirectly.
Nice madam
Have you heard of Swiss golden!! No I guess bc if you have you will be too busy making millions chat me up for details 09034466560
After giving obasanjo bugati he stated giving u oil block I worch yr interview on AIT u sed u stody in abroad and u sed u make money without certificate time all tell ooo alakija
It is the gift of a man that will make a room for him and not his certificate. The purpose of going to school is to develop discovered gift or talent, school does not give talent or help identity it,because it is a personal responsibility. Talent could be used raw or after development, it all depend on individual.
Education is important but their are things outside it that can make u somebody, ur talents can make u a somebody
This is our money forget that thing
education is doesn’t mean rich its just a try anything
just do something u know to make u rich in dis life if u educated if u ar not av money its nothing if a person nt educated if he get money some of peoples educated do slave in he under education is means make u civilization is just civilize
So that mins all her employees are illiterate right ?
For the fact that someone made it without a degree, does not mean degrees are of no use, there is no way Goodluck Jonathan would hve been president of Nigeria if he heard primary six leaving “degree” certificate, so if u hve one already , be of good courage , there is hope u will make it.
You need brains to achieve goals and dreams not a degree.
It’s very good to be educated,when grace is at work in you,anything is possible with God,with the statement she made,she didn’t mean it’s not good to go to school.
Education Is Good but wealth is more preferable
Education is not the yardstick of wealth, but a mental liberation which will furnish your life in all ramifications. Formal education and financial education(Financial liberty) are two different concepts, but people always mix them up.Formal education deals with acquisition of knowledge while Financial education (Financial Liberty) deals with acquisition of wealth.Assuming you are earning #200,000 as monthly salary,you will make a total sum of #84,000,000 in 35 years, but a business mogul can make such as his own net profit in four months.Being a graduate with a first class is not the yardstick of the acquisition of wealth,being a professor of economics is not the yardstick of the world’s billionaires list,lol how many professors can even turn 2 kobos to 4 kobos in business?Dropout (Bill Gates) is the world richest man today,Certificate alone is not enough to liberate a man from the shackle of poverty, as you are acquiring formal education, also try to acquire financial liberty alongside it.Nigeria of yesterday is totally different from Nigeria of today, graduates are increasing in geometric progression on daily basis while job vacancies are in arithmetic progression. Certificate may disappoint you ,if you are waiting for the value that certificate can add to your life.No man is jobless, except he choose to be idle.Get something doing instead of lingering for white collar job at home doing nothing.Time is fair to everybody, 24 hours is given to everybody per day,it is our personal decision to use it wisely or foolishly.Success is an end result of efforts, don’t be relented in your endeavour, one day success will surely smile on you.It is not formal education that liberated Bill Gates,Amancio Ortega,Warren Buffett,Mark Zuckerberg,Larry Ellison,Aliko Dangote,Folorunsho Alakija,Mike Adenuga etc. I am not saying that formal education is bad or a waste of time,note everybody must be educated but we shouldn’t limit our success to our certificate.Talent, gift ,skill and ability must be nurtured for our survival B.A Michael
Nothing Grace of God can’t do in the life of a man
Somebody dashed you Oil Block. A think?
I’m sure that was possible when a woman’s place was in the kitchen not on this modernized and computerized age. The last time I checked her age I saw 60’s to 70years so don’t fool us.
Obasanjo has already told us the secret of your succeess. He made you a billionaire. If he could not assist his own daughter-in-law without the other room conditions, we already know yours is not different.
CONGRATULATIONS ma,i rejoice with you .degree is alright and added advantage what is more important is to be honest and hard working in life other things shall be added to it by the power of all mighty ,congrats ma .
How did you do that
But ur parents left u a good inheritance n u make use of it well, everybody has their own Destiny at hand, Education is good and is another way of succeeding too. May God help us to find our way of success.