Dupe Olusola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, has made history by becoming the first female CEO of a publicly quoted company in Nigeria with a market capitalization of over one trillion naira.
Transcorp Hotels Plc, a subsidiary of the Nigerian conglomerate Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp Plc), is the owner and operator of the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja and Transcorp Hotels Calabar.
Olusola, who has over 22 years of corporate experience spanning various sectors, was appointed as the CEO of Transcorp Hotels in March 2020, taking over from Owen Omogiafo.
She joined Transcorp Hotels from United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, where she was the Group Head of Marketing and was responsible for the development and delivery of the integrated strategy for all UBA Group Bank and non-bank subsidiaries.
Under her leadership, Transcorp Hotels has weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic and bounced back to profitability, with its share price growing more than 600 per cent over the past year.
Olusola has also spearheaded the launch of Aura by Transcorp Hotels, a digital hospitality platform that connects people to unique accommodation, great food, and memorable experiences.
Olusola’s achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she was recently named the Leadership CEO of the Year 2023 by Leadership Newspapers, one of the leading national dailies in Nigeria.
Olusola, who holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of Kent, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Leicester, UK, is married to Lanre Olusola, a renowned life coach and motivational speaker. They have two children together.
Olusola is a role model and an inspiration to many young women in Nigeria and beyond, who aspire to break the glass ceiling and make a positive impact in their chosen fields.
She is a testament to the power of hard work, resilience, and innovation in the face of challenges. She is indeed a trailblazer and a visionary leader, who has set a new standard for excellence in the Nigerian hospitality industry.