Dr. Folorunso Alakija, philanthropist, business leader, and Chancellor of Osun State University, has donated a ₦34 billion medical research and training hospital to the institution, reinforcing her commitment to education, healthcare, and national development.
The hospital, formally handed over to Osun State University, is expected to significantly boost medical education, research, and healthcare delivery within the state and beyond. Named the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital, the facility was designed as a world-class centre that integrates teaching, research, and specialised medical care.
Equipped with 250 admission beds, the hospital operates across 20 clinical and five non-clinical departments, alongside a community health unit. It provides comprehensive maternity and neonatal services, advanced research and diagnostic laboratories, and four state-of-the-art operating theatres. The facility also features cutting-edge diagnostic imaging, including CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and X-ray services, as well as radiotherapy suites, 16 intensive care units, and a specialised ophthalmology unit.
Beyond the landmark donation, Dr. Alakija’s life story reflects decades of trailblazing achievement across multiple sectors. Educated in Europe, she began her professional career in office administration before transitioning into banking. She later followed her creative instincts into fashion, founding Supreme Stitches, which evolved into the renowned Rose of Sharon House of Fashion, a brand that became synonymous with elegance and Nigerian identity.
Her impact on the fashion industry was further cemented through her leadership as National President and lifelong Trustee of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, where she championed the promotion of Nigerian culture through style. Her entrepreneurial ventures also span specialised printing, oil and gas, and real estate. She serves as Executive Vice Chairman of FAMFA Oil Limited, a leading oil exploration and production company, and Executive Vice Chairman of Dayspring Property Development Company Limited, with global real estate interests.
A committed philanthropist and woman of faith, Dr. Alakija has consistently channelled her resources into social impact. Through the Rose of Sharon Foundation, she has empowered widows, orphans, and vulnerable families through education, skills development, and scholarships. Alongside her husband, Modupe Alakija, she also founded the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International, which has grown from a small house fellowship into an international Christian ministry.
An accomplished author and motivational speaker, Dr. Alakija continues to inspire women and young people through her books, public engagements, and philanthropic work. Widely recognised both in Nigeria and internationally, she remains a symbol of purposeful leadership, generosity, and excellence.
She lives in Lagos with her husband of nearly four decades, their children, and grandchildren.
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