By Aondowase Agabi
Members of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria on Monday presented the Managing Director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc Mrs. Dupe Olusola, the Outstanding Employer of the Year 2022 award.
The award was presented to her at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
The CEO received the award on behalf of Transcorp Hotels Plc, as an “Employer of Labour who is pro workers”.
This came weeks after the union announced the award at its Dinner & Awards Night where it celebrated the most pro-workers employers in Nigeria.
The Union which focuses on unions representing senior staff has close to 30 affiliates, including the Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria. However, Transcorp Hotels was the only hotel recognised in the awards which the TUC intends to hold every year.
Speaking while presenting the award, TUC Secretary General Comrade Nuhu Toho lauded the commitment of Transcorp Hotels Plc to the welfare of its workers.
“On behalf of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, we are glad to be here. I’m happy to inform you that the screening process that led to this award was very rigorous. We got nominations from our affiliates across all sectors, and we double-check to see that what is being said about the employer is correct. We had over 200 nominees, which we narrowed down to about 18, you are fortunate to be one of those credible employers that we felt we should honour. It is on that basis that the Nigerian workers present to you the Outstanding Employer of the Year 2022,” Comrade Toho said as he presented the award, urging Mrs. Olusola to continue to do more.
Comrade Toho was accompanied on the visit by Comrade Isaac Egbughara, Financial Secretary of TUC, Comrade William Adegbe President of the Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and Tolu Akinmayowa Assistant Secretary, Industrial Relations of the TUC.
In her message, while receiving the award, Mrs Olusola said that commitment to workers is in the company’s DNA as can be seen across the Transcorp Group and other companies where the Transcorp Group Chairman Mr Tony Elumelu, CFR is invested in. It shows strong leadership and sound Corporate Governance; a clear adherence to systems and structures that ensure the interest of all stakeholders, particularly our employees, align, making Transcorp a great place to work. She stressed that the award is not only for her but also for her team and the Board of Directors.
“It’s really rewarding. It’s such a great privilege to receive this award,” Mrs Olusola said. “We all know how active the TUC is and how they prioritise everything that concerns employees. You are indeed the voice that speaks for the people.”
“At Transcorp Hotels Plc, we are very committed to prioritising all our stakeholders, including our staff. Our jobs are guest-facing, and if our employees are not happy, it will be impossible to serve our guests appropriately,” Mrs. Olusola said. “We are one because at the end of the day, we want the same things, and that’s what matters the most.”
Recall that the organised labour unions in Nigeria’s hospitality sector had in December 2022 commended Transcorp Hotels for its commitment to workers’ welfare. In a statement by the unions which include the Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff (HAPSSSA) and National Union of Hotel and Personal Services Workers (NUHPSW), they praised the hotel for prioritising the interests of workers.
“We are pleased to see that the management of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja has demonstrated a commitment to the welfare of its workers. They have shown that it is possible to run a successful hotel while also treating workers with respect and fairness.”
The leading hospitality brand has continued to reinforce its position as an employer of choice in the country, contributing significantly to human capital development in the hospitality industry and the nation at large. This is in line with the parent company Transcorp Group’s purpose of improving lives and transforming Africa.
Transcorp Hotels Plc is the hospitality subsidiary of Transcorp Group, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate. The company owns the award-winning Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar, and Aura by Transcorp Hotels, the online platform for booking homes, hotels, and experiences.
