Spotlight on HR Excellence: An Interview with Chidinma Eke, a Leading Force in African HR

Welcome to another insightful edition of the Africa HR Forum, where we bring you conversations with some of the leading minds in Human Resources across the continent. Today, we are privileged to have Chidinma Eke, Head of People and Culture at ECS Innovation Solutions, a distinguished HR professional from Nigeria and one of our esteemed Africa HR Forum Influencer Leaders. Chidinma has carved out a remarkable career in HR, blending her background in psychology with extensive experience across various industries. She is here to share her journey, the challenges she has faced, and her vision for the future of HR in Africa. Join us as we dive into her inspiring story and gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of human resources.

AHRF: Can you tell us about your journey into the field of Human Resources and what inspired you to pursue a career in this field?

Chidinma: As a graduate of Psychology, I was drawn to the HR field and sought the opportunity to practice HR. Post NYSC, I worked briefly as a Copywriter at an Advertising agency. Then I joined my next employer as a management trainee. During my Trainee year, I had the opportunity to see the business inside out. I worked across Sales, Finance, Internal Audit and Production. Post Management Trainee, I indicated HR as my preferred career path, and I was privileged to have the opportunity to settle in the HR team. It was a great learning curve; I was opportune to work under an astute HR leader. The tutelage I received from that experience has been largely pivotal to my career growth and success.

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AHRF: As a seasoned HR professional in Nigeria, what are some of the key challenges you've encountered in the HR landscape, and how have you overcome them?

Chidinma: The major challenge most HR professionals have faced is a bit of an egg and a chicken challenge. Most organizations still see HR role as purely operational- as the administrative/welfare arm of the organization. This is perhaps due to the level of exposure of the HR professionals they have been in contact with- hence the egg and chicken paradox- which came first?

Nonetheless, the landscape is changing with the advent of strategically skilled HR professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic was also a big boost to the HR field, more and more professionals and organizations have woken to the realization of how much of a business driver we are.

I have been fortunate not to have faced these challenges at an institutional level but somewhat at an individual level, i.e., with some employees who are still stuck in the past. My strategy for overcoming it is a show and tell strategy- where I prove myself professionally and I’m also vocal about the great work I put in.

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AHRF: How has your HR certifications enhanced your skills and capabilities as an HR practitioner, and how do you stay updated with the latest trends and developments in the field?

Chidinma: Certifications have come to be seen as a sort of validation with emphasis on the certification rather than the skills.

I have been very careful in my career to only go for value adding certifications that enhance my skills and capabilities. I consider myself a lifelong learner and I embrace learning everywhere. From professional associations and certifying organizations to the multiple organizations, groups and individuals with knowledge sharing sessions, I embrace these learnings and stay updated on trends and developments in the HR industry and the larger society.

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AHRF: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing HR professionals in Nigeria and across Africa today, particularly in light of recent global events such as inflation, layoffs or the COVID-19 pandemic?

Chidinma: The most pressing issue facing HR professionals in Nigeria is the most pressing issue facing businesses in general- business sustainability. The operating terrain is getting stiffer and more competitive. Competition is now global across all industries. ?

All HR activities and initiatives must be linked to the business strategy to be valid, and all the HR challenges are linked to business sustainability. Be it talent mobility, employee engagement or a lack of it, compensation and benefits issues, talent development issues, etc. are all linked to business sustainability.

If the business thrives, there will be more resources to address people issues. Therefore, all HR initiatives must be tailored to and aligned with the organization’s strategy. When the organization wins, the people win.

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AHRF: As an Africa HR Forum Influencer Leader, how do you envision the role of HR professionals evolving in the future, and what steps can be taken to ensure they remain relevant and effective in a rapidly changing world?

Chidinma: I am one HR professional who is looking forward to AI revolutionizing the HR profession and eliminating routine, robotic work. This will give way to the HR profession strongly and fully evolving into a strategic business partner role.

To remain relevant and effective in a rapidly changing world, every professional and not just HR professionals needs to be an active learner to remain on the cutting edge of updates and advancements in their organization, industry and career. See your career as a business that must evolve (progress, update, grow) or die. We live in an ever-changing world, adaptability and flexibility are key for every professional, and you can only adapt to the level that you are knowledgeable. Be knowledgeable about your field and even beyond your field. Be knowledgeable about business indices; this is something that is required in every field. Only then can you remain always relevant.

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AHRF: Can you share some of your most memorable experiences or achievements in your HR career so far, and how have they shaped your approach to HR management?

Chidinma: My most memorable career moments are times when I positively impacted both the business and the people through the introduction of initiatives that have had a positive impact on the business bottom-line and the employee’s career and wellbeing. These moments have solidified my view that it is possible to achieve balance between the business needs and the people needs and it always starts with clearly defined SMART organizational and individual goals.

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AHRF: What advice would you give to aspiring HR professionals, especially those who are just starting their careers in Africa?

Chidinma:

a. Learn, read, study, work, volunteer. Build your roots and grow them deep. Ensure you are grounded in the HR field. Never resist a learning opportunity. Some of them come by way of volunteering, some skills you will learn from volunteering in a religious setting, an association, an HR group, etc. are transferrable to the workplace.

b. Grow your business acumen and data analysis. Get comfortable with numbers, understand business success parameters. If you’re currently employed, understand the business of your organization as well as a sales professional. You should be able to speak to your business operations expertly. Even if unemployed, learn business success parameters and data analysis.

c.????? Network. Grow your network horizontally and vertically. Network with people across, above and even beneath your level. Network across your industry and outside your industry. Your future self will thank you for it.?

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AHRF: In your opinion, what are the key qualities or skills that every successful HR professional should possess, and how can they cultivate these qualities?

Chidinma: There’s no exhaustive skill set. Probably the most important will be a learning mindset. However, here are a few- HR skills along the HR value chain (from acquisition to exit), business acumen- soft skills such as communication, negotiation, leadership, etc.

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AHRF: How do you promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization, and what role do you believe HR professionals play in driving positive change in this area?

Chidinma: It all begins with the organization’s policies, practices, and processes. These policies must speak to every area of the employee life cycle to enable DEI across the different touchpoints and in the employee’s experience. DEI isn’t a fancy buzz word, it’s the practices that are to be woven into the very fabric of the organization’s culture to have a great place to work; where employees thrive and contribute their best towards the achievement of the organizational goals.?

HR professionals are the custodians of the organizational culture (although every employee has a role to play in the actualization of a positive work culture) and need to ensure the actualization of a positive work culture in the organization through the policies, practices and processes that enable this.

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AHRF: As we celebrate Labour Day and honor HR professionals across Africa, what message would you like to share with your fellow HR practitioners, and how do you envision the future of work in our continent?

Chidinma: Frankly, there aren’t enough days to celebrate the good work HR puts in to sustain the business. We wear so many hats and are often overlooked with no one to advocate for us. Personally, I always seize any opportunity to celebrate and congratulate HR professionals for the good work we put in. HR isn’t a walk in the park as most people assume, it takes resilience, internal motivation, and an extra-large dose of professionalism to have a successful HR career. Well-done to all HR professionals.?

The dynamism of the industrial and societal landscape has handed HR professionals a gift- our relevance is even more pronounced to futuristic organizations. I encourage us all to embrace this gift (as many have). Ensure you remain relevant by constantly upskilling yourself and building a network of worthy mentors and colleagues who challenge and inspire you to be an inspiration.

Thank you for joining us for this enlightening discussion with Chidinma Eke. Her journey and experiences highlight the critical role of HR in driving business success and employee well-being. As we strive for a better future in HR, her insights remind us of the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and strategic alignment in HR practices. We hope you found this interview as inspiring and informative as we did. Stay tuned for more conversations with thought leaders in the HR field, only here at the Africa HR Forum. Until next time, keep striving for excellence in your HR endeavors.