Edidiong Obot
Edidiong Obot is a proud first generation Nigerian–American with strong cultural ties that impact her community and influences cultural awareness. Prior to her selection, Ms. Edidiong Obot served as a Community Affairs and Advocacy Specialist for Harris County Precinct One where she utilized her training and experience to organize around various community issues and policies centered around equity in underserved and marginalized communities. Edidiong is an alumna of Texas Southern University where she obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry with Cum Laude honors as a Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participants Scholar and United Health Care/Pacific Care African-American Scholar. Her substantial involvement with environmental scientific research received research funding from The United Negro College Fund Special Program (UNCFSP), NASA Science and Technology Institute Fellowship, Air Force Research Laboratory Minority Leadership Fellowship, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellowship. This led to her pursuance of a Master’s of Science in Environmental Toxicology where she graduated with Summa Cum Laude Honors and received funding from the UNCFSP & the NASA Science & Technology Institute to develop and execute research assessing the potential human impact of titanium dioxide carbon nanotubes on the viability of human fetal osteoblast cells.
Edidiong is able to transfer her scientific background into community advocacy and cultural spaces where she can make an impact both at the micro and macro level. Edidiong has served on local and international boards based in Houston and Nigeria. She was selected as a fellow of the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation Social Justice Fellows Program in 2021. Edidiong has been featured as a cultural influencer and community advocate in VoyageHouston Magazine,TEDxAlief, and National Action Network. Edidiong has hosted/produced 2 local TV shows, that currently televises African Diaspora young professionals with a focus on bridging the gap, sharing resources, and cultural awareness. Additionally, her podcast, Educate Your Vote, provides a platform that informs communities about the voting process, candidates, policies, movement building, etc.
Edidiong was honored with the 2022 Stella Trimble Community Service Award by the Fountain of Praise. She was also recognized as one of the 50+ Black Market on the Rise in Influencers and Media Innovators by the African-American Marketing Association, featured in Who’s Who in the Nigerian Diaspora, Who’s Who in Black Houston, and amongst the Top 20 Rising Africans Star Award Under 40 by PAYA. Edidiong is a global leader and an internationally recognized speaker who has spoken on various platforms including South Africa’s Dream Academy Leadership Summit, RegTech Africa Conference, and other conferences.
Edidiong looks forward to the National Urban Fellows experience with aspirations of addressing the internal and external barriers of equity and inclusion in the immigrant/migrant community within the African Diaspora when it relates to policy and decision making projects on a local, state, and federal level. Edidiong looks forward to relationship building with her NUF cohort, alumni, and Georgetown University faculty, students, and staff.