Dupsy Abiola facts for kids

Modupeola "Dupsy" Abiola (born March 1982) is a British businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is also a trained lawyer, known as a barrister in the UK. Dupsy is currently the Global Innovation Officer for the International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns several big airlines. She also started her own company called Intern Avenue. This was an online website that helped connect students and recent graduates with companies looking for interns.

In 2013, Dupsy was named one of the most important black businesswomen in Great Britain on the Thomson Reuters Power List. She has also appeared on TV and in the news to talk about business and helping people find jobs. You might have seen her on the BBC show Dragons' Den. On the show, she presented her business idea and received an offer of investment from a famous businessman, Peter Jones.

Early Life

Dupsy Abiola was born in London, England, in 1982. Her father was Chief M.K.O. Abiola, a respected leader in Nigeria. Her mother was Dele Abiola. Dupsy's father was a very successful businessman and also a kind person who helped many others.

Dupsy grew up in North London with her mother and five brothers and sisters. She also has other half-siblings from her father's side. When she was just nine years old, Dupsy showed her business skills. She started a small business with a friend, making and selling puzzle magazines at school. They even made a good profit! Her father's success and interest in business greatly influenced Dupsy.

Family Challenges

Dupsy's father, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, was a very important leader. He was known as the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba people. This is a special title for a military general. He became a strong supporter of civil rights and democracy in Nigeria. In June 1993, he won the first free and fair presidential election in Nigeria.

However, the military government at the time refused to give up power. They said the election results were not valid. Chief Abiola was then put in prison and could not see his family or anyone from the outside world. Many people, including the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, tried to help him get released. There were also many protests and sad events in Nigeria during this time.

Chief Abiola died suddenly on July 7, 1998, the very day he was supposed to be released. Dupsy was sixteen years old at the time. The way her father died is still a very difficult topic for her and her family.

Education and Achievements

Even with a difficult childhood, Dupsy was a very bright student. She won many academic awards and scholarships. These included the Frederica Lord Bursary and an International English Speaking Union Scholarship.

Dupsy attended South Hampstead High School for her secondary education. After that, she went to New College, Oxford University to study law. While at Oxford, she was an active student. She was elected to the JCR committee, which represents students. She was also good at public speaking and debating legal topics.

Career Journey

Legal Career

After finishing university, Dupsy continued her law studies. She received special scholarships from the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, which is one of the places where barristers are trained in London. She then attended the Inns of Court School of Law. In 2006, she officially became a barrister, which means she could represent people in court.

Dupsy worked as a barrister in a private law firm. She handled many complicated and important legal cases. This included being involved in the Wembley litigation, a major legal dispute.

Intern Avenue

In late 2010, Dupsy decided to leave her legal career. She wanted to start her first big business project, Intern Avenue. The website officially launched in Autumn 2012. Intern Avenue was created in London, which was becoming a growing hub for technology companies.

The website was well-received and featured in national newspapers and technology magazines like Wired. Intern Avenue aimed to help students and graduates find internships and connect with employers. However, the website is no longer active as of January 2023.

In November 2018, Dupsy Abiola was recognized by the Financial Times. She was named on their list of the 'Top 100 minority ethnic leaders in technology.'

International Airlines Group

In January 2018, Dupsy took on a new and exciting role. She was appointed as the Global Innovation Chief at the International Airlines Group (IAG). In this role, she helps the company find new and creative ways to improve and grow.