In a continent pulsing with ambition, where legacy institutions are being redefined and boardroom seats no longer belong to tradition alone, Owen Omogiafo has emerged as a quiet force with unrivaled precision.
As President and Group CEO of Transcorp Group, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious conglomerates, she is more than a business leader. She is a virtuoso of transformation, orchestrating power, hospitality, and capital with an elegance and mastery that places her firmly among the most elite minds shaping Africa’s economic future.
ALSO READ: Under 40 CEOs Launches How We Made It in Africa: Volume 2
At just 40, she became the youngest and first female CEO of Transcorp, an empire that spans energy, hospitality, and investments. But Owen didn’t just inherit a legacy. She is rebuilding it. Under her watch, Transcorp has become a symbol of disciplined ambition, strategic expansion, and stakeholder-driven prosperity.
The numbers dazzle, triple-digit revenue growth, historic milestones in power generation, and sustained profitability across sectors. Yet, what sets her apart isn’t the balance sheet. It’s her philosophy: that leadership must be both refined and radical. Composed, yet catalytic.
Her ascent is no accident. Born in Benin City, her academic pedigree is layered with distinction. She holds a double honours BSc in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Benin and a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics. She is also an alumna of Lagos Business School, IESE Business School in Spain, and certified in Change Management by the Prosci Institute. But her truest education has always been people; understanding them, moving them, and, ultimately, leading them.
ALSO READ: Mo Abudu: The Storyteller-in-Chief of Africa
Owen began her career at Accenture, where she mastered the architecture of change in organizations. She moved on to become HR Advisor to the GMD at United Bank for Africa, then held key roles at Heirs Holdings and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. At the latter, as COO, she managed the rollout of the landmark $100 million entrepreneurship programme across 54 African countries, a blueprint that not only empowered thousands of entrepreneurs but cemented her status as a pan-African strategist.
Her transition into hospitality was equally seamless. Appointed Managing Director and CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc in 2019, she spearheaded the transformation of properties like the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja, navigating economic turbulence and the post-pandemic travel reset with visionary calm.
Then came the ultimate appointment: President and Group CEO of Transcorp Corporation in March 2020, a historic elevation that placed her at the helm of one of Nigeria’s most visible and respected institutions.
Since then, Owen has elevated Transcorp’s identity from legacy to future-facing. In power, she has led Transcorp Power Plc to market dominance, overseeing record-breaking output and leading the successful listing of Transcorp Power on the Nigerian Exchange in 2024.
ALSO READ: Reni Folawiyo: The Woman Who Dressed Africa In Confidence
In hospitality, she has expanded digital experiences, redefined luxury service standards, and introduced new layers of sustainability. In leadership, she is cultivating a culture of excellence that extends from the C-suite to the shop floor.
It is no surprise that her cabinet of accolades is as refined as her execution. She is a recipient of the national honour Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), named one of the Top 100 Most Influential African Women, a Business Leader of the Year honouree, and a consistent presence on elite boards and global leadership forums.
Each honour echoes a larger truth: Owen Omogiafo represents the pinnacle of what 21st-century African leadership looks like; competent, composed, and unmistakably world-class.
Yet, despite the spotlight, she moves with the quiet elegance of a leader who doesn’t need noise to make an impact. A wife and mother of three, she credits her stability to a solid family foundation and an unshakeable sense of purpose. In a world that often demands women trade softness for success, Owen shows that excellence can, in fact, be graceful.
ALSO READ: The Power of Proximity: Why Elite Networking Still Builds Empires
Her vision is clear: to build institutions that endure, power that empowers, and leadership that transforms. For her, corporate success is not the finish line, it’s the foundation for national and continental influence.
She believes that Africa’s prosperity will be shaped not just by entrepreneurs, but by executives who lead with conscience, character, and conviction.
In Owen Omogiafo, Africa has found not only a CEO but a composer of possibility. One who doesn’t just manage corporations but curates their legacy. One who isn’t chasing titles, but crafting a future where African excellence is the standard, not the exception.
