About six months after she was sent packing as the chief executive officer of Transcorp Hotels by the chairman of the hospitality group, Tony Elum
About six months after she was sent packing as the chief executive officer of Transcorp Hotels by the chairman of the hospitality group, Tony Elumelu, Dupe Olusola has refused to throw a pity party. She has taken the bull by the horn and has birthed DOVA Capital, an Africa-focused investment sponsor dedicated to shaping the continent’s growth story through high-impact, purpose-driven investments.
Dupe was relieved of her job in December 2024, three months after she threw a lavish 50th birthday party.
Dupe was appointed to the position of MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels on March 25, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic when occupancy fell to just 5%. She led the company back to profitability faster than most of the world’s hospitality companies, with the share price growing over 600% in 2023. Under her leadership, the company extended its offer, the company’s flagship property Transcorp Hilton Abuja and introduced leisure offerings, finding the perfect blend of business and leisure.
She became the first female CEO of a N1 trillion company shortly after Transcorp ended the year as the best performing stock on the Nigerian Exchange. While there as CEO, the company won over 40 awards. Before then, she was Group Head, Marketing, United Bank for Africa.
Dupe is also the Founder of Next Generation Foundation, a philanthropic fund dedicated to improving the lives of underserved and vulnerable children through education. With this foundation, Dupe extends her lifelong commitment to empowering others, driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of education. The foundation’s vision is for every child to have access to quality education, and a chance at a better life.
During her 50th birthday, Olusola introduced the foundation’s flagship initiative – the 50 by 50 project, which is a multiyear scholarship programme (commencing in the 2024/2025 academic session), for 50 children, between the ages of six and 18, from low-income families. The 50 by 50 project will provide free tuition, books, school uniforms, nutrition programmes, access to health services, and mentorship to the beneficiaries, starting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states. This effort will be powered by partnerships with leading social impact organisations focused on education.
For those who don’t know, Dupe is the wife of Lanre Olusola, a celebrated lifestyle coach, a former columnist with Genevieve magazine and an executive with Mo Abudu’s Ebony life television. Popularly known as Kuppy, he also runs OLMed, a wellness firm.
