Owen Omogiafo is a Nigerian business executive, strategist and corporate leader best known as the President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Corporation Plc, popularly known as Transcorp. Her career has covered human resources, banking, organisational development, philanthropy, hospitality, energy and business transformation.
She became the first woman and the youngest person to lead Transcorp when she assumed the position of President and Group CEO in 2020. Her career before Transcorp included senior roles at Heirs Holdings, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, United Bank for Africa and Accenture.
Who Is Owen Omogiafo?
Owen Diana Omogiafo is a Nigerian corporate executive and strategist. She leads Transcorp, a diversified Nigerian conglomerate with interests in power, hospitality and energy.
She joined Transcorp in 2018 as Executive Director of Corporate Services. She later became Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels before taking over the leadership of the wider group in 2020.
Her professional experience has given her exposure to several major sectors of the Nigerian economy, including financial services, hospitality and power.
Owen Omogiafo Age and Early Life
Owen Omogiafo was born on May 28, 1980, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. She is 46 years old as of October 2026.
Her birth name was Owen Diana Elaiho. She later became known professionally as Owen Omogiafo.
She developed her career through human capital management and organisational development before moving into broader corporate leadership. Her background has helped shape her approach to managing people, operations and business transformation.
Education
Omogiafo studied Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Benin, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with double honours.
She later obtained a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
She has also attended executive education programmes at Lagos Business School and IESE Business School in Spain. Her professional training includes certification as a change manager through the Prosci Institute in the United States.
She is also a member of professional organisations including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom and the Institute of Directors in Nigeria.
Early Career
Omogiafo began her professional career in stockbroking before moving into banking. She subsequently worked in areas including operations, service quality management and relationship management.
She later joined Accenture, where she worked as an Organisation and Human Performance Consultant. Her responsibilities included change management and consulting assignments involving organisations across different sectors.
She then moved to United Bank for Africa, where she served as Human Resources Adviser to the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
These positions helped develop her expertise in organisational development, human capital management and business transformation.
Career at Heirs Holdings and Tony Elumelu Foundation
Omogiafo later joined Heirs Holdings, where she became Director of Resources. Her role involved developing systems and structures to improve how people and resources were deployed across the group.
She subsequently became Chief Operating Officer of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
At the foundation, she worked with its leadership and board on the $100 million entrepreneurship programme established to identify, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs over 10 years.
The role gave her significant experience in entrepreneurship development, programme management and philanthropy across Africa.
Joining Transcorp
Omogiafo joined Transcorp in July 2018 as Executive Director of Corporate Services.
Her responsibilities included supporting the group’s operations and strategic objectives. She later became Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc.
As head of Transcorp Hotels, she oversaw operations involving the company’s major hospitality properties, including Transcorp Hilton Abuja and Transcorp Hotels Calabar.
She was involved in the completion of the major renovation of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, a project reported at $132 million.
President and Group CEO of Transcorp
In March 2020, Omogiafo became President and Group CEO of Transcorp.
Her appointment made her the first woman and youngest person to occupy the position. She has remained at the helm of the group, whose businesses include power generation, hospitality and energy.
Under her leadership, Transcorp has continued to expand its presence in Nigeria’s power sector through Transcorp Power and Transafam Power, alongside its hospitality and energy interests.
The company’s current leadership profile continues to identify Omogiafo as President and Group CEO.
Leadership in Business and Education
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Omogiafo has been involved in professional and leadership development.
She serves as President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association. Through this role and other professional activities, she has supported leadership development and continued engagement among business-school alumni.
She also serves on boards and participates in organisations connected to Nigeria’s business and economic development.
Awards and Recognition
Omogiafo has received several professional recognitions during her career.
In 2023, she was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON.
She has also appeared on lists recognising influential African women in business and leadership.
In 2025, she received the Businesswoman of the Year award at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards. The recognition added to a series of honours associated with her corporate leadership.
Family
Owen Omogiafo keeps much of her personal and family life away from the centre of her public career. Publicly documented information focuses more extensively on her education, professional background and corporate responsibilities.
For that reason, details about her spouse and children are best kept limited unless reliably documented.
Why Owen Omogiafo Is Important
Omogiafo’s career illustrates the growing role of professional management expertise in major Nigerian corporations.
She moved from human resources and organisational consulting into executive positions spanning philanthropy, hospitality and energy. Her appointment at Transcorp also marked a significant leadership milestone for women in Nigeria’s corporate sector.
Her experience across several industries has allowed her to approach corporate leadership from a broad perspective that combines people management, strategy, operations and business transformation.
Conclusion
Owen Omogiafo has built a distinguished Nigerian corporate career across human resources, banking, philanthropy, hospitality and energy. Her progression from management consulting and human capital roles to leading Transcorp reflects a career shaped by organisational strategy and business transformation.
As President and Group CEO of Transcorp, she continues to operate at the intersection of corporate leadership and major sectors of the Nigerian economy. Her professional achievements and national recognition have made her an important figure in contemporary Nigerian business.