My father, though a billionaire, did not believe in girl-child education —Folorunsho Alakija

She may be a big global oil player today with hands in various big pies, but chancellor of Osun State University and Chairman Rose of Sharon Foundation, Folorunsho Alakija was herself a victim of gender discrimination and child abuse, as she revealed in her speech as she accepted an honorary Doctorate- her 5th- from the same University recently By Morenike Taire HER early years As a 7-year old girl who just followed daddy’s orders to leave her beloved homeland, siblings and loved ones, and the warm sunshine of her African continent for school in a snowy cold country where she suddenly had to learn a new culture, wear heavy warm clothing and make new friends;
Folorunsho Alakija journeyed into that new land not knowing what the future would hold in what was to be her boarding school for the next four years, in 1958. Her holidays with an aunt could be likened to the Cinderella years that helped to shape and prepare her life for the future. Discovery of talents, strengths Having been made ready to face a life of hard work, she discovered her talents, strengths and weaknesses which she applied and learnt even in bringing up her own children later on in life. But when in her teenage years she desired to read law in the university, her father declined her wish and steered her to become a secretary “In Colonial times, women were relegated to the kitchen, had less formal education – if any at all – and were forcefully married off early. The main education they could get was limited to domestic sciences, dress-making, hair dressing, mat weaving, pottery etc. They had little recognition in politics and only the voices of a few could be heard in palaces and village meetings. My late father was one of those who, despite being a billionaire, initially had the mentality that educating the female gender was a waste of money. So, I was sent to England for a shorter course– for after all according to him, women would just become housewives bearing another family name.

The rest of course, is history”. First female Chancellor in Nigeria : Thanking her husband of almost forty years whom she fondly refers to as Modu (Modupe Alakija) and describes as “loving, kind and indefatigable”, Mrs. Alajika adds: “Undoubtedly, today history has again been made. I congratulate Osun State University for taking such a bold step in being the first Government owned University, whether Federal or State, in Nigeria to appoint a female Chancellor. I feel extremely humbled, proud and excited to be receiving this conferment as Chancellor. I also appreciate the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, DBA, Honoris Causa which came in as a surprise. Glass ceiling broken by womanhood This is another glass ceiling being broken by womanhood and I thank God for His grace for letting me be a part of it”. Encouraging more women to improve on their education, especially in Nigeria and Africa where the women and the girl child are still very much under-represented, especially in higher institutions of learning and the economy as a whole, she quoted the UK Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, Theresa May, as having said: “Giving women the opportunity to achieve their full potential must be at the heart of our approach to economic growth”.