In a powerful commentary on the state of opportunity in Nigeria, Dr. Owen Omogiafo OON, Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Plc, has spotlighted her company’s efforts to dismantle the traditional culture of “who you know” and replace it with a system based purely on merit. The initiative, named Transcorp Intern-X, is the corporate manifestation of a philosophy long championed by the Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R: “Democratising Luck.”
The concept, originally backed by Mr. Elumelu’s personal $100 million commitment to fund and mentor 10,000 African entrepreneurs, is now being institutionalized within one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates.
Dr. Omogiafo elaborated on the core meaning of the philosophy, explaining that democratizing luck means establishing “a level playing field for people to access opportunities rather than on a ‘who you know’ basis.” She drew a compelling link between corporate practice and national development, reflecting on her own youth and witnessing the systemic disadvantages faced by intelligent students from humble backgrounds.
“As a young student at the University of Benin, I watched some friends in Science and Engineering scramble for the mandatory Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) placements,” Dr. Omogiafo recounted. “This struggle was not because they were not intelligent, but rather, because like me, they came from humble backgrounds, thus did not have the ‘connections’ that some had access to.”
She argued that a system that excludes a significant portion of the talent pool due to a lack of connections is detrimental to a country like Nigeria, which relies heavily on its large and vibrant youth population to fuel future growth.
This conviction is what drove Transcorp Group to launch the Transcorp Intern-X programme in 2023. This is a merit-based internship designed specifically for university and polytechnic students to complete their mandatory SIWES at two of the Group’s critical power subsidiaries: Transcorp Power Plc or Transafam Power Limited.
The CEO stressed the strict criteria guiding the selection process, underscoring the revolutionary nature of the program in a local context where nepotism often dominates recruitment. “You do not need to know anyone to be considered for the program,” she affirmed. “You simply apply, go through a screening process, and if successful, you are in.”
Furthermore, Transcorp has moved to eliminate the structural barriers that often prevent lower-income students from taking up prestigious, unpaid internships. The company provides a comprehensive support package that includes feeding, transportation, accommodation, and a monthly stipend for the duration of the internship, a commitment Omogiafo says is central to “reducing the real barriers that people truly face.”
Two years into the program, Dr. Omogiafo shared impressive initial results: 23 young Nigerians—comprising 7 females and 16 males—have successfully completed the rigorous training. The testimonials from these participants, she noted, serve as “great encouragement to us at Transcorp to continue this programme—proof that luck, when democratised, creates hope and scales impact.”
Concluding her statement with a call to action for the wider corporate community, Dr. Omogiafo issued a clear mandate for the future of Nigerian enterprise: “To the 23 young Nigerians who have gone through the Transcorp Intern-X programme, congratulations. Your runway is clear. To the next wave, and to every person reading this, let’s keep building systems where talent, not ties, decides who takes off. Nigeria’s future depends on it.”
The Transcorp Intern-X initiative stands as a significant case study in how major corporations can actively work to institutionalize meritocracy, offering a replicable blueprint for organizations aiming to tap into Nigeria’s vast, often-untapped pool of youth talent.
