Lifestyle
What You Need To Know About Saudi’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Al-Waleed: Inside The London Car Crash That Left Him In A 20-Year Coma Before His Death
Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, known as ‘sleeping prince’, passed away. He was 36. He was in a coma for two decades following a car accident in London in 2005. The accident caused severe brain injuries.
His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, stayed by his side. He rejected withdrawing life support. Funeral prayers will be held in Riyadh.
His long medical ordeal began in 2005 after a horrific car crash in London that left him with severe brain injuries at just 15 years old.
Born in April 1990, Prince Al-Waleed was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud and the nephew of billionaire businessman Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. At the time of the accident, he was studying as a military cadet in the UK and was seen as a promising figure in the Saudi royal family.
Despite his unresponsive state, his father remained by his side throughout the years, rejecting all suggestions to withdraw life support.
Videos of the prince showing minor movements, such as lifting his fingers, stirred hope across Saudi Arabia and the broader Arab world. His hospital room became a spiritual symbol, drawing visitors and prayers.
In the years that followed, he showed limited signs of physical response. A video clip from 2020, where he lifted his hand in reaction to a greeting, gained widespread attention online. However, he never regained full consciousness, and his condition remained critical.
A nation’s grief
Prince Khaled bin Talal was widely praised for his dedication. He spent years beside his son and shared updates with the public. He firmly believed in divine healing and often posted messages of faith and hope on social media. Even as doctors from Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Spain treated the prince, his condition remained largely unchanged.
On July 19, Prince Khaled confirmed the death of his son in a deeply emotional message on X, quoting a verse from the Quran and expressing sorrow over the loss. Funeral prayers will be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
As news of his death spread, the hashtag #SleepingPrince began trending across social media, with thousands sharing condolences and remembering the young royal who captured hearts in silence.
FAQs
Who was the “Sleeping Prince”?
The “Sleeping Prince” refers to Prince Al‑Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud. Born in April 1990, he entered a coma at age 15 after the London accident and spent the next 20 years largely unresponsive, becoming a symbol of hope and devotion.
What caused Prince Al‑Waleed bin Khalid’s 20-year coma?
In 2005, 15‑year‑old Prince Al‑Waleed was involved in a severe car crash in London that left him with catastrophic brain injuries and internal bleeding. He never regained full consciousness and remained on life support until his death in July 2025.
Where will his funeral prayers be held?
Funeral prayers for Prince Al‑Waleed will take place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ceremony is scheduled for the day following his death announcement.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), has defended his ministry’s practices and origins, asserting that its founding and key decisions, including the acquisition of his private aircraft, were guided by direct divine instructions.
In a video clip circulating on social media, Bishop Oyedepo dismissed any claims of a “co-founder” of the ministry, stating, “This ministry has no co-founder. The first one to hear the mission is this young lady [pointing to his wife],” referring to his wife.
He said that all the founding principles and “12 pillars” of the commission were given to him directly by God, not by men.
The cleric also addressed the often-criticised topic of his private jets, asserting that the decision to acquire them was not his own.
“It was not a discussion. It was God who told me it’s time to get the aircraft,” he said.
Oyedepo also touched on the church’s employment policies, emphasising that the ministry is not run in a loose or informal manner.
He stated that all staff, regardless of their claims of a divine calling, must go through a formal process. “You write an application, you do an interview, you get an employment letter, you respond,” he said.
In conversations about wealth and influence in Africa, Nigeria often takes center stage. While much of the spotlight falls on male billionaires dominating the oil, telecoms, and banking sectors.
A remarkable group of women are shattering glass ceilings and making their mark on the business world. They are the wealthiest women in Nigeria, not only accumulating great fortunes but also inspiring future generations with their drive and ingenuity.
Here are the stories of the top 5 richest women in Nigeria, their backgrounds, business ventures, and the influence they wield.
1. Folorunsho Alakija (Estimated net worth: $1 billion)
Folorunsho Alakija is a true self-made billionaire, defying stereotypes and paving the way for other women in Nigeria. In 2020, Forbes termed Folorunso Alakija the richest woman in Nigeria and “the most powerful woman in Africa.”
She started her career in fashion design, establishing a successful clothing line. However, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to explore new ventures. In the 1990s, Alakija’s company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil exploration license, propelling her to the forefront of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. She is also a philanthropist, supporting education initiatives and empowering women through her foundation.
2. Hajia Bola Shagaya (Estimated net worth: $950 million)
Hajia Bola Shagaya’s journey began in the civil service, working as an auditor for the Central Bank of Nigeria. However, her entrepreneurial spirit soon took hold. She started by importing photographic equipment, laying the foundation for her successful business group, Bolmus Group International.
This diversified conglomerate has interests in oil and gas, real estate, banking, and photography. Shagaya is a prominent figure in Nigerian business circles and a role model for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
3. Daisy Danjuma (Estimated net worth: $900 Million)
Daisy Danjuma is the wife of retired Nigerian General Theophilus Danjuma, a prominent businessman. While details of her early career are limited, she has become a powerful figure in her own right.
Danjuma is the co-founder of Afenmai Austeniti Limited, an oil and gas exploration company. She is also known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
4. Fifi Ekanem Ejindu (Estimated net worth: $850 million)
Fifi Ekanem Ejindu is an architect, entrepreneur, and benefactor with familial ties to King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town, Calabar. She ranks among the foremost female architects in Nigeria and established the Starcrest Group of Companies, encompassing real estate development, architectural design, and investment sectors.
Her fortune is estimated at approximately $850 million. In 2013, she was honoured with the African Achievers Award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Fashion.
Renowned for her innovative and neo-traditional approach to architecture, Fifi continues to make significant impacts in her field.
5. Stella Okoli (Estimated net worth: $800 million)
Stella Okoli, an industrious pharmacist, business leader, and philanthropist, is the driving force behind Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries LTD. From a humble pharmacy, she has grown her business into a pharmaceutical giant valued at $800 million.
She also holds leadership roles as the Vice President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
In memory of her son Chike Okoli, who passed away in 2005, she founded the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006. This charity aims to fight poverty and diseases, with a special focus on preventing cardiovascular diseases. Stella Okoli also manages the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Google’s algorithm appears to misrepresent this fact by linking Seyi Tinubu to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, likely due to her high visibility as the First Lady and long-standing senator
Claim: Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, not Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as incorrectly displayed in some Google search results.
Findings
Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is often inaccurately portrayed in online search results as the biological son of Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
However, reliable sources and historical records clarify that Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, a former air hostess.
Bunmi Oshonaike was married to Bola Tinubu before his current wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The marriage produced Seyi Tinubu before the union dissolved. Subsequently, Bola Tinubu married Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who became Seyi’s stepmother. While Oluremi Tinubu plays a prominent role in Seyi’s life, particularly given her public profile, she is not his biological mother.
Google’s algorithm appears to misrepresent this fact by linking Seyi Tinubu to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, likely due to her high visibility as the First Lady and long-standing senator. This highlights the need for better contextual accuracy in automated search results to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Final Verdict.
The claim is true: Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, not Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Who is Bunmi Oshonaike?
Bunmi Oshonaike, a former air hostess with the defunct Nigeria Airways, is the biological mother of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This fact clarifies the common misconception that Senator Oluremi Tinubu is Seyi Tinubu’s mother. Nigerians are widely aware of this distinction.
Seyi Tinubu has celebrated his biological mother’s birthday publicly, including publishing tributes in national newspapers since 2022, further affirming her role as his mother.
Her ethnicity is Yoruba, originating from the southwestern region of Nigeria. Although unconfirmed sources suggest that she hails from Lagos State, there are no detailed accounts of her biography available online.
Bunmi is 65 years old as of 2024. This calculation is based on her 60th birthday, which was celebrated and published by THISDAY Newspaper on November 11, 2019. This publication confirms her birth year, making her age 65 in 2024
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