Dr. Owen Omogiafo, the President of Transcorp Group, Nigeria, was recently crowned Africa’s Businesswoman of the Year. The honor was conferred on her by the All African Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in partnership with CNBC Africa, at a grand finale ceremony held at the King’s Ballroom, Sun City, South Africa.
The AABLA is Africa’s largest single-business award, “telling an African story of perseverance, success, innovation, and accountability for the past ten years, and has become synonymous with recognizing the best in business leadership on the African continent, and continues to grow in boldness and stature,” AABLA stated on its website.
Trancorp Group is Nigeria’s largest listed diversified conglomerate, with strategic investments in hospitality, oil & gas, and power sectors in Africa.
Before assuming her role as President/Group CEO of Transcorp, Dr. Omogiafo was the MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels PLC, where she led the completion of the $132 million renovation of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja-Nigeria. She is the first woman and youngest person to hold both positions.
The multi-award-winning corporate executive has over two decades of experience in organizational development, human capital management, financial service, change management, hospitality, energy, business transformation, and strategic planning.
Dr. Omogiafo is instrumental in promoting inclusive business practices, uplifting women leaders, nurturing entrepreneurial talents in Africa, and diversifying the Transcorp Group’s portfolio across different sectors of Africa.
In addition to her current position, she has held many high-profile roles, including Director of Resources at Heirs Holdings – a pan-African investment company; HR Advisor to the Group Managing Director at the United Bank of Africa PLC; and Organization and Human Performance Consultant at Accenture.
Dr. Omogiafo holds a B.Sc (double honors) in Sociology & Anthropology from the University of Benin, an M.Sc. in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics & Political Science, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Engineering from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun. She is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and IESE Business School in Spain.
The business executive and strategist is a member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, UK; a certified Change Manager with the Prosci Institute, USA; a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Nigeria; a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria; and a member of the Boards of Afriland Properties Ltd, Transcorp Power Ltd, TransAfam Power Ltd, Transcorp Hotels Plc and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
She sits on the Advisory Board of Heirs Academy and is the Vice President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association.
Aside from the 2023 AABLA (All African Business Leaders Awards) Businesswoman of the Year Award, Dr. Omogiafo has won other accolades and recognitions, including Africa’s Top 100 Women in Leadership, 100 Most Influential African Women, 50 Most Inspiring Nigerian Women, and 50 Leading Ladies in Corporate Nigeria.
In a statement released to The Star, Transcorp Group said that the award was presented by African financial services company, Absa Group Limited, at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA), in partnership with CNBC Africa.
The Group further stated that the All Africa Businesswoman of the Year award “is a testament to Dr. Omogiafo’s exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to excellence, and significant contributions to the African business landscape.
“Her visionary approach and strategic acumen have propelled Transcorp Group to new heights, cementing its position as a leading conglomerate in Africa,” it noted.
