Going Beyond the Call of Duty: Ruth Shares How She Returned Money that could have paid her 10years’ salary!

 By Temitope Senbanjo

Ruth Biaye is no ordinary staff.

You may see her working around Transcorp Hilton, dutiful and cheerful, but this phenomenal woman has been commended since 1992 far too many times to count for returning lost or forgotten items guests left behind.

What happened with the last guest who commended you?

Mr. Ike Chioke stayed in Room 935 and checked out on the 22^nd May, 2018. He called thereafter that he left his valuables in the room.

I promised to follow up. The items were found in the room and I cross-checked with the details given by Mr. Ike Chioke. He was advised in writing of the development and procedures towards retrieving them.

The guest was delighted and sent his staff, Grace Tarfa over for collection.  The items were given to her upon presentation of her Identity card as agreed with the guest and in accordance with our Standard Operating Procedures.

What inspired you to handle the issue the way you did?

Two things inspired me:

(1) The fear of God. I was raised up by God-fearing parents who instilled in me the virtue of honesty.

As a Christian, honesty is not just the best policy, it is the right policy.

(2) I have enjoyed the dividends of Integrity as a key component of Hilton’s core values.

I became a permanent member of Hilton Team in 1992 as a reward for my honesty.

I picked a large sum of money that could have paid my salary for over 10 years but I did not hesitate to hand it over to the Lost but Found Co-ordinator.

It was celebrated elaborately and published in several national newspapers.

I have been in charge of Lost but Found Section since the year 2000.

Also, it is in conformity with the standard performance of my duties as Lost but Found Co-ordinator

What would you say is your passion and aspiration?

One of the Hilton Core Values is Integrity. I want to, in my own little way, make that a reality at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

I want our guests not only to feel cared for but also to feel safe both physically and materially.

I want our guests to experience the positive narrative of our integrity values whilst staying with us.

Your advice to other Team Member who are faced with integrity question?

Like I said earlier, honesty is not only the best policy, it is the right policy.

It pays. Hilton celebrates and rewards Integrity. I’m a living witness to that fact.

It gives you peace of mind and the clean conscience and all Team Members should display the core value of Hilton Integrity at all times.