Ajoke Ayo Ogunsan is one of Nigeria’s most visible female voices in ethical leadership, enterprise development and hospitality management. As the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Executive Trainers Limited and a key figure behind Executive Hotel and Suites, Ogba-Ikeja, Lagos, she has consistently demonstrated how business excellence can intersect with community development, transparency and people-centred growth.
Her career reflects a rare blend of enterprise excellence, ethical leadership and community consciousness. From corporate training to hospitality management, her work continues to demonstrate that sustainable leadership is measured not only by profit, but by people and purpose. In the dynamic landscape of Nigerian enterprise and community development, she portrays the carriage of strategic vision, transformational leadership, social impact, grace and tenacity. In this exclusive interview with LYDIA ENYIDIYA EKE, Mrs Ogunsan spoke on her journey, recognitions, hospitality investments, leadership philosophy and the tangible impact of her work across sectors. Excerpts:
You have received several national recognitions in recent years. What do these awards represent to you?
Awards are never the goal, but they are important markers of accountability. When institutions recognise my work for transparency, leadership or empowerment, it reminds me that values still matter in business. For me, these recognitions affirm that ethical leadership and people-focused enterprise can thrive even in challenging environments like ours.
Can you highlight some of the specific awards you have received and what they were given for?
Certainly. In 2024, I received The Pride Newspaper’s Woman of the Year Award, which recognised my leadership impact across business, training and social development. I was also honoured by Transparency Africa with an award for ethical and transparent leadership, acknowledging our commitment to accountability and integrity in corporate governance.
Earlier, I was listed among the Top 50 Most Outstanding and Impactful Women in Leadership in Nigeria, which celebrated women making measurable contributions to national development. In 2022, I received the Supreme Media Woman Wealth Creation and Empowerment Icon Award (SUSRA) for my work in enterprise growth and empowerment initiatives. These honours encourage me to keep raising the bar.
You are best known as the MD/CEO of Executive Trainers Limited. What has been your core achievement with the company?
At Executive Trainers Limited, our core achievement has been building leadership capacity and human capital across sectors. We have focused on executive education, corporate training, leadership development, ethics, and organisational performance. Beyond profitability, we have helped organisations build better teams, stronger governance structures, and more productive work cultures. For me, developing people is the most sustainable investment any organisation can make.
Many people may not know about your involvement in hospitality. What is the name of your hospitality company in Lagos?
I am lead at the Executive Hotel and Suites. It is located in Ogba-Ikeja, Lagos. It is part of the broader Executive Group, which includes businesses in training, consulting, logistics, and hospitality.
What specific contributions have you made in the hospitality sector through Executive Hotel and Suites?
In hospitality, my focus has been on service excellence, job creation, and professional standards. We invested in building a hospitality facility that meets modern expectations while reflecting Nigerian warmth and professionalism. We have created employment opportunities for staff across operations, administration and support services. Equally important, we prioritise training and staff development, ensuring that employees understand customer service, ethics, and professionalism. Hospitality should uplift both guests and workers.
How does hospitality management align with your vision for community development?
Hospitality is a powerful tool for community development. Hotels and service businesses stimulate local economies, support vendors, and create jobs. Beyond economics, they instill discipline, confidence and transferable skills in young people. When hospitality is managed intentionally, it becomes a platform for empowerment and social inclusion.
You were honoured by Transparency Africa for ethical leadership. Why is transparency so important to you?
Transparency builds trust, and trust is the currency of leadership. Businesses collapse not just because of financial failure, but because of ethical failure.
I believe leaders must be accountable, to employees, clients, partners and society. Ethical leadership is not optional; it is foundational. That recognition from Transparency Africa was particularly meaningful because it affirmed our values.
As a female voice, leading in multiple sectors, what challenges have you faced?
Women often face heightened scrutiny and expectations. You must prove competence repeatedly. However, I have learned to focus on preparation, consistency and excellence. Challenges will always exist, but integrity, competence and resilience help you rise above limitations. I encourage women as they sound their female voices, to lead confidently and stay anchored in values.
Mentorship and empowerment feature strongly in your work. Why is this essential?
Because leadership that does not reproduce itself is incomplete. Through training, mentorship and empowerment initiatives, I have seen lives transformed.
When people are given knowledge, confidence and opportunity, they become contributors to society. Empowerment creates ripple effects that go far beyond one individual.
What would you say is your most tangible impact so far?
Building people. Creating jobs. Promoting ethical leadership. Strengthening organisations. Whether through Executive Trainers Limited or Executive Hotel and Suites, the consistent thread has been impacted on individuals, families, and communities. That is the legacy that matters most to me.
Finally, what message do you have for young Nigerians female voices aspiring to leadership and entrepreneurship?
Lead with purpose, not pressure. Build character before chasing success. Invest in learning, stay accountable, and remember that leadership is service. Nigeria needs leaders who are ethical, competent and compassionate. If we commit to those values, the future will be brighter for everyone.
