Meet Edidiong Christopher Edet, a standout alumna of the Careers@Hilton program in partnership with Transcorp Hilton Abuja. She exemplifies what it means to turn potential into purpose. In this interview, Edidiong shares how the program helped shape her career, the challenges she overcame, and the advice she has for other young people seeking clarity and opportunity in today’s competitive job market.

Can you briefly tell us about yourself?

My name is Edidiong Christopher Edet, a 25-year-old female Chartered Human Resource Personnel. I am a passionate and driven individual with a strong interest in human resource management and people development. I have a background in Political Science, and I am committed to building a meaningful career that allows me to empower others through structured systems and compassionate leadership. My journey into HR began during my NYSC year in 2021, where I worked as an HR intern in a facility management company. Thereafter, I interned at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where I participated in the Careers@Hilton program in partnership with ACE Charity.

What was your life like before joining the Career@Hilton program, and what motivated you to participate?

Before joining the Careers@Hilton program, I was searching for a clear path to continue my HR career because it actually piqued my interest. After my Service year, I got another job as a business development officer in a finance company where I worked for about 7 months. I knew deep down that was not my career path and I knew I had to get back into Human Resource Management. And like many young people, I had the passion but lacked the professional experience and mentorship to break into the corporate world of HR. I was motivated to participate in the program because it presented a rare opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to a world-class hospitality environment, while learning from experienced professionals. I also admired Hilton’s global reputation for nurturing young talent, and I saw it as a platform to kickstart something meaningful.

What key skills or experiences did you gain from the program that helped shape your career?

The program equipped me with both technical and soft skills that are vital in the HR profession. I took on more than 14 HR related courses in just two weeks and actually won “The BlueEnergy Award” for it. During my time in the HR department, I basically job shadowed the various Managers in each HR unit where I gained hands-on experience in recruitment processes, onboarding, employee engagement and relations, learning and development and basic HR administration. I learned the importance of confidentiality, attention to detail, and communication skills that have become the foundation of my professional identity. The exposure to Hilton’s core values of hospitality, integrity, and teamwork also helped me understand what it means to work in a people-centered environment.

How did the program influence your journey to becoming an HR professional, and what challenges did you overcome along the way?

The Careers@Hilton program was a turning point for me. It not only confirmed my passion for HR but also gave me the confidence to pursue it professionally. Like many new interns, I initially struggled with self-doubt and adjusting to a fast-paced corporate environment. But with the guidance of my supervisors and the inclusive culture at Hilton, I gradually found my voice and learned to take initiative. Overcoming those early challenges made me more resilient and affirmed that I belong in the HR space.

How has your life changed since completing the program, both professionally and personally?

Professionally, the program opened doors I never imagined. It also gave me credibility, real-world experience, and a network of mentors and peers who continue to support my growth. I have worked in reputable hospitality organizations. I worked as a Human Resource Manager in 3Js Hotels and Apartment for 1 year and 3 months and I am currently working in a 5-star hotel, Johnwood Hotel as their Human Resource Officer.

Personally, I have become more confident, disciplined, and purpose driven. I now approach opportunities with a sense of readiness and optimism, knowing that I have been trained by one of the best hospitality brands in the world. The experience helped shape not just my career but also my mindset and self-worth.

What advice would you give to other young people who are thinking of joining an empowerment program like this?

I would say—go for it! Opportunities like the Careers@Hilton program can be life-changing. Don’t let fear or inexperience hold you back. Be open to learning, stay curious, and give your best every day. Even if you start small, the experience and connections you gain can pave the way for a successful future. Empowerment programs are not just about jobs—they’re about discovering who you are and what you’re capable of becoming.

With a burgeoning out‐of‐school population and illiteracy rate, the situation of protracted conflict and crises fuelled by the Boko‐Haram insurgency further exacerbates educational inequality for children in northern Nigeria. The Covid‐19 pandemic further deepened the “educational poverty” experienced there.

This article focuses on data generated around ACE radio school, an initiative to mitigate the impact of Covid‐19‐related school closures in northern Nigeria. The initiative targeted young learners using radio as a medium to support their continued learning remotely in numeracy, literacy, sciences, and civics education. Daily learning activities were broadcasted in the local Hausa language, supported through “listening groups” that engaged local learning facilitators in the communities.

Despite the known existing barriers that have been identified to hinder access to quality education in the region, including poverty, religion, socio‐cultural factors, and protracted conflict situations, our interviews revealed that parents were committed to supporting their children’s attendance at listening groups, due to the use of their mother tongue as a mode of instruction.

Drawing on a conversational learning approach, we argue that understanding local conditions and adopting local solutions, such as the radio lessons delivered in these children’s mother tongue, have implications for enhancing improved learner outcomes in marginalised contexts.

Read full paper here: https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/5171

Although insurgency is largely reported as the primary reason for the number of out-of-school children in the Northern part of Nigeria, there are new suggestions that several other factors that are primary contributors to this educational problem. The aim of the study, therefore, is to expose some of the hidden barriers that impede the enrollment and completion of male children in schools in Northern Nigeria.

It also seeks to understand the factors responsible for the receptiveness of ACE Radio School – an alternative form of education introduced in selected states in Northern Nigeria in 2020 in response to the pandemic. For this study, qualitative data was used, employing purposive sampling as a method for selecting the participants.

The responses were collected using a remote data collection tool over a three month period and were subsequently analysed thematically. A total of 35 respondents were sampled and these respondents were adolescent boys in Northern Nigeria, between ages 10 and 18 who were out-of-school and were also listeners of the ACE Radio School lessons.

Findings from this study revealed seven major reasons for the number of out-of-school boys in Northern Nigeria while citing other less prominent, but note-worthy reasons. Also, the experiences the boys had with ACE Radio school affirms that this remote method of teaching, using both the radio and mother tongue, made ACE Radio School a good alternative for delivering high quality educational content to out-of-school boys, and girls alike, in Northern Nigeria.

Read full paper: https://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-1222/ijsrp-p13214.pdf

Despite considerable efforts to improve school enrolment among children, school attendance and completion rates in SubSaharan Africa remain low. Several barriers have been identified to hinder access to quality education for children in the country, including poverty, religious and cultural factors.

ACE Charity, a non-governmental organization, implemented an alternative form of education among out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria, and received significantly positive reception and high participation from beneficiaries. This research was therefore being conducted to provide information on invisible barriers of school enrolment among out-of-school girls in Northern Nigeria and explore the high level of receptiveness to radio as an alternative form of education among girls in Northern Nigeria.

A qualitative approach was chosen as the research method for this study, with semi-structured interviews with 100 female participants, purposively sampled, were conducted. Inclusion criteria were female participants who were out of school while ACE Radio School was implemented, and participated in ACE Radio School listening groups, or listened to the radio broadcasts through radio. The study showed that poverty and poor quality of government education were major deterrents to school enrolment in the region, while major motivation for partaking in the alternative education were the learning opportunities, the local language of instruction.

The findings highlight that school enrolment will improve if free access to education and high quality of learning is provided to girls living in Northern Nigeria.

Read full paper here: https://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-1122/ijsrp-p13125.pdf