Few Malvernians reflect curiosity, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit quite like Dara Makanjuola. After leaving Malvern College, Dara read Law at the University of Birmingham before completing an MSc in Energy Trade & Finance at Cass Business School, now Bayes. Dara spent two years in London working with an oil and gas trading company, gaining hands-on experience trading across Europe, particularly in Croatia and Bosnia. Immersed in international markets and the fast-moving energy sector, she built the foundations of a global perspective that would shape her career in unexpected ways.
In 2008, Dara returned to Nigeria, newly married and ready for the next chapter. It was there that her entrepreneurial instincts began to flourish. Reflecting on what truly energised her, Dara recognised her passion for hosting, hospitality and the importance of good service. She founded Prestige Hospitality Solutions, initially focused on training domestic and hospitality staff, before expanding into uniforms – a move that has since grown into a core part of the business. From ready-to-wear uniforms for domestic staff to bespoke corporate designs for sectors including oil and gas, banking, education and hospitality, Prestige now services clients across Nigeria, supported by a team of artisans.
Eighteen years on, Dara continues to build and diversify. Alongside Prestige, she is a Director at Valland International Nigeria Ltd, a marine services and supply company, and is now looking ahead to expansion across Africa for Prestige. She hopes to develop a luxury arm of the business, exploring loungewear, indigenous textiles and sustainable production. The flexibility of entrepreneurship has also allowed her to raise her family while leading two companies – something she treasures deeply: “It’s important my children see me work, see that passion matters. If you love what you do, pride follows.”
Dara credits Malvern with nurturing both her intellectual curiosity and her global outlook. History – particularly under the inspirational teaching of Roy Allen – sparked a love of learning that has stayed with her throughout her life. Memorable moments include the transformative History of Art trip to Florence, Chapel, speech and drama lessons, and tutee dinners. Returning years later to send her daughter to Malvern was a full-circle moment. “Malvern opened my eyes to the world – to different people, cultures, possibilities,” she reflects. “You see it in what my contemporaries have gone on to achieve. That breadth, that richness – it’s the essence of Malvern.”