Dr Chike Walter Duru of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State has been appointed as a Research Fellow of INTI International University, Malaysia.
The appointment, which took effect from 19 May, 2026 through 31 December, 2028, was contained in an official letter signed by the institution, Professor Joseph Lee.
The appointment of the renowned communication scholar, public relations leader, and an associate professor of Mass Communication was in recognition of his contributions to strategic communication, media studies, governance, international development and communication research.
Duru and his new appointment
By virtue of his new position, Dr. Duru has been placed among an international network of scholars committed to advancing collaborative research, innovation, and global academic engagement.
The fellowship was designed to promote excellence in research, enhance institutional research standards, and foster international scholarly collaboration.
As a Research Fellow, he will participate in a broad range of academic and research activities, including collaborative research projects, international conferences, research symposiums, postgraduate supervision, guest lectures, research consultancy, curriculum development, and scholarly publications.
The fellowship also provided opportunities for research funding and institutional support for the dissemination of research outputs.
The appointment represented another milestone in the career of one of Nigeria’s most accomplished strategic communication and development experts.
He is currently the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Achievers University, Owo, where he combined academic leadership with extensive practical experience gained across the public, private, humanitarian, and international development sectors.
With more than two decades of professional experience, Dr. Duru has distinguished himself through exemplary leadership in strategic communication, governance reform, humanitarian response, media management, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity development.
Until recently, he served as a Communication Expert with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Nigeria.
He previously led communications for the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, a landmark World Bank-supported national programme co-funded by the European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency.
His extensive consultancy portfolio includes serving as Lead Communication and Advocacy Consultant on major donor-funded governance initiatives.
The initiatives included the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme and the UK Department for International Development (DFID)-supported Justice for All (J4A) Programme.
His work has contributed significantly to strengthening transparency, freedom of information implementation, justice sector reforms, and citizen engagement.
Dr. Duru also served as Special Adviser on Media and Communications to a former governor of Imo State.
In that capacity, he spearheaded strategic government communication and public engagement initiatives.
He was widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) process, having co-chaired the Access to Information Working Group that advanced transparency and accountability reforms nationwide.
In 2015, Duru was named among Nigeria’s leading media executives after being screened and selected among the top four percent of executives in the sector.
The recognition came with an Award of Excellence presented by a business research and publication firm led by Harvard-trained American executive Elvis Krivokuca.
His academic journey included teaching and leadership appointments at the American University of Nigeria, Yola; Prime University, Abuja; Madonna University, and currently, Achievers University, Owo.
He has authored several textbooks, contributed chapters to scholarly publications, and published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles covering public relations, development communication, journalism, media studies, advertising, and African communication systems.
Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Duru described it as “an important opportunity to deepen international research collaboration and contribute to knowledge production that addresses contemporary communication and development challenges.
“This fellowship provides an excellent platform for international academic collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and knowledge exchange.
“I look forward to working with colleagues at INTI International University to produce impactful research that contributes to communication scholarship and sustainable development.”
Colleagues and associates as well have described the appointment as a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Duru’s longstanding contributions to scholarship, policy development, governance reforms, and strategic communication practice across Africa.
Observers noted that the fellowship further strengthens the international profile of Achievers University, Owo, reflecting the growing global recognition of Nigerian scholars making significant contributions to research, innovation, and development.
Duru holds a Ph.D in Mass Communication from the University of Uyo; a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Imo State University, Owerri.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), and Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).
