By Victor Gotevbe

Nigeria is undoubtedly endowed with great natural and human resources. Interacting with 23 years old Chika Uwazie,  a Human Resource Professional with experience in recruiting, human capital management and organizational development leaves you with a strong impression that she is indeed an asset.

She is doing us proud both in Nigeria and at the Diaspora, through her efforts in helping young people  and organizations become more resourceful to themselves and to the society. She shares her story with Saturday Vanguard Youthful Vibes.

I actually chose HR as a profession while I was looking for graduate schools to attend in my third year of college. My first degree was in psychology and I realized I wanted to have an impact on people, but not just from a research background. I am a people person, I love hearing people’s issues and creating solutions for their issues. It is not easy bearing all the weight of employment relation issues on your shoulders, but it is challenge that ignites my passion.

Secondly, it is a good thing to be an HR professional. We are now viewed as strategic business partner and I have seen a need to understand human capital in Africa. I feel it is a space that has not risen to its full potential in Nigeria, and I like going on the least traveled path.

What is growing up like for you?
I grew up in a family of intellects. My mother’s background is in Pharmacy while my father, Dr. Uwazie, owns a leading IT firm in Lagos called Netsolutions. They both have always told me to value my education, and foster my entrepreneurial spirit. Out of this I created the Naija careerist, a space for young Nigerians to get career advice that they need.

I received a full scholarship to Bethune Cookman University as well as a scholarship from the Black Congressional Caucus. There I studied Psychology. Currently I am obtaining a Masters in Human Capital Management at Georgetown University. I am currently 23 years of age.

CHIKA UWAZIE

What has been your experience working as a Recruiting Project Associate?
The recruiting project associate position was specially created to fufill a new need at my organization. On a day to day basis I handle their recruiting initiatives at career fairs and conferences. At the background, I conduct data analysis with their recruiting data.

I look at how we recruit, and what are more strategic methods for us to recruit top PhD students that do research for our organization. It has been a rewarding experience and I finally feel I am in my element. I also get to lead their efforts in social media recruiting by collaborating with our communications team to have a presence on facebook, twitter, and Linkedin.

What’s your experience with  the World Bank and how  can you change the experience of young professionals?
At the World Bank, I was a contract Human Resources (HR) analyst that worked with the youth mobility special team. I gave consultation from an HR perspective of how the World Bank can create a more inclusive environment for young employees. This initiative helped young employees become more engaged in their task as well as have a fulfilling work environment where they feel they can make  meaningful contribution(s).

When was  your last visit to Nigeria and what has been your experience?
The last time I was in Nigeria was in August for personal reasons, but in April I went there as an international observer. I was impressed by how much Nigeria has grown, but I have seen Nigeria as a country that still has a long way to go.

During my time observing the elections in my home state (Imo), I first hand saw politicians trying to rig the elections. I have seen that the people are no longer motivated by bribery and will fight for a fair election that has worthy leaders representing their states.

Would you say that there are many young skillful Nigerians vis-à-vis the political climate in Nigeria?
I feel everyday young people are stirred into the political climate. It can be as simple as trying to start their own business and facing the obstacle of registering because of the government restraints on starting a business.

They also may be put in uncomfortable positions to have to bring as we say “brown bags” to bribe a politician to close out a contract. Unfortunately the mentality of business as usual is not going away anytime soon. It is an uphill battle that the youth will continue to face.

What skill gap do you find in the course of your work interviewing young people for jobs?
There is no doubt that Nigerians are very smart. We even beat other ethnicities in the diaspora in regards to the most educated. The skill gap I see is the ability to think on your feet and being able to adapt to change. I have seen that people know the book and are able to explain to you the theory, but their mentality is to tell me what to do and I will do it.

Quite a number of youth fail to see that you have to have multiple solutions for one problem, and you have to be able to see things from different perspective. This also ties back to being creative and thinking outside the box. Young people fail to regret one job can get thousands of applications. How will your resume stand out from the rest of the resumes? I have seen too many resumes that do not articulate their particular skill set that will be valuable to my organization.

What would be your recommendation for Nigerian youths to becoming more resourceful?
Young people need to get creative on how they present themselves and use social media outlets to create a unique value. I always tell young people to create a Linkedin profile and use this tool as a way to connect with other like-minded people. It is also a  way to learn more about your industry, and it puts you ahead of the rest of the pack.

Also, always invest in yourself. Instead of trying to buy the newest blackberry take that money to enroll in a training course or a seminar that can teach you a new skill. As we go forward 60% of companies will be looking for skills that only 20% of the population. Constantly updating the skills you have will be invaluable asset to an organization.