Chike Walter Duru

• Developed and implemented innovative curricula that enhanced student engagement and promoted critical thinking skills across disciplines.
• Facilitated interdisciplinary seminars that encouraged diverse perspectives, enhancing the academic community and enriching student learning experiences.
• Evaluated and revised course content based on evolving industry trends, ensuring relevance and alignment with educational goals and standards.
• Organized academic conferences and workshops, promoting knowledge exchange and networking opportunities within the academic community.
• Served on various academic committees, contributing to institutional policy development and strategic planning to improve educational outcomes.
• Mentored students and advised on career paths, degree requirements and post-graduate education options.
• Led research initiatives, fostering collaboration among faculty and students, resulting in numerous published articles in peer-reviewed journals.
• Mentored junior faculty and graduate students, cultivating their professional development and ensuring adherence to academic standards and integrity.

● Led external and internal communications efforts, crafting and delivering key humanitarian messages to diverse stakeholders.

● Organized media field trips and high-profile press events, strengthening outreach initiatives to crisis-affected regions such as Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States.

● Maintained and expand relationships with national and international media outlets, raising the visibility of UNOCHA's efforts and increasing media coverage by 30%.

● Oversaw the production and distribution of multimedia content, enhancing public awareness of humanitarian efforts and achieving a 20% increase in audience engagement.

● Led social media campaigns and maintained digital platforms, resulting in a 25% growth in social media presence.

Key Achievements

● Spearheaded communication strategies for internal, external, and public affairs, raising the project’s visibility by 40% across multiple regions.

● Led crisis communication efforts, ensuring swift and accurate responses, which reduced reputational risks by 25%.

● Boosted media partnerships and online engagement by 50% through strategic media relations and digital campaigns.

● Developed and implemented comprehensive communication strategies that improved brand visibility by 25% and increased stakeholder engagement by 30%.

External Communications and Public Affairs Leadership

● Led strategic communications across Africa and Europe, implementing cohesive external, internal, public affairs, and regulatory communications plans, resulting in a 40% increase in stakeholder engagement and visibility.

● Served as the spokesperson for high-profile projects, ensuring a consistent public image and positioning key initiatives at the forefront of public and media attention.

● Advised on communications strategies that enhanced internal and external messaging effectiveness, improving communication performance by 15%.

● Secured high-profile speaking opportunities for executives, elevating organizational visibility and increasing awareness by 30%.

● Enhanced digital presence, driving a 50% boost in new media engagement through optimized content and campaign strategies.

● Maintained regular website updates, resulting in a 15% rise in traffic and audience interaction.

PR & Communication Strategy Leadership

● Spearheaded cross-regional media relations, fostering relationships with key journalists and editors, resulting in a 30% increase in media partnerships and earned coverage across Africa and Europe.

● Developed and executed comprehensive PR and communication strategies, resulting in a 25% rise in media coverage and a 15% increase in brand visibility across diverse markets.

● Crafted communication work plans aligned with organizational goals, reducing response time by 20% and ensuring streamlined communications across internal teams.

● Led internal communications efforts, producing newsletters, intranet content, and team updates that improved internal engagement by 15%.

● Delivered timely updates to key stakeholders, including government agencies and partners, ensuring a 40% reduction in information dissemination time.

● Managed and led a multi-regional communications team, including both in-house staff and consultants.

Crisis Communication and Leadership

● Proactively managed crisis communications across diverse regions, reducing response time by 25% while safeguarding organizational reputation during high-risk situations.

● Enhanced executive presentations at key events, resulting in a 20% increase in audience engagement through tailored messaging and crisis preparedness.

Stakeholder Relationship Management and Outreach

● Established and sustained strong relationships with media outlets, government officials, industry influencers, and community leaders, ensuring effective information exchange and fostering productive partnerships.

● Collaborated with cross-functional communication teams and external partners to facilitate seamless information flow and alignment of communication goals across geographies.

● Issued strategic press releases and statements, keeping the public and key stakeholders informed on major project developments, contributing to a 20% increase in engagement and positive sentiment.

Content Creation and Engagement

● Directed the creation of high-quality content for external communications, including press releases, social media campaigns, and opinion articles, increasing online engagement by 20%.

● Ensured content alignment with organizational goals, reinforcing the company's brand identity and messaging objectives across regions.

Digital Communications & Marketing

● Deployed AI-driven tools for graphic design, content creation, and digital marketing, enhancing visual communication strategies and boosting digital engagement by 25%.

● Increased project visibility and market presence, resulting in a 10% increase in brand recognition and regional partnerships through targeted digital marketing campaigns.

• Developed and implemented innovative course materials that enhanced student engagement and supported diverse learning styles.
• Led interdisciplinary research projects, fostering collaboration among faculty and students, resulting in increased academic publications.
• Mentored graduate students in research methodologies, facilitating their professional growth and contributing to successful thesis completions.
• Organized and conducted workshops on effective teaching strategies, improving faculty performance and student learning outcomes.

• Led the development and implementation of strategic advocacy initiatives, enhancing stakeholder engagement and organizational impact.
• Facilitated capacity-building workshops to empower local teams, resulting in improved communication and advocacy skills.
• Coordinated cross-functional teams to design and deliver communication strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
• Developed and managed stakeholder relationships through targeted outreach, fostering collaboration and support for key initiatives. -

• Developed and implemented innovative curriculum enhancements, significantly improving student engagement and learning outcomes across various disciplines.
• Facilitated collaborative research projects, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships that enriched academic offerings and advanced knowledge within the university community.
• Contributed to strategic planning sessions, identifying key opportunities for program development and aligning resources to meet institutional goals.
• Engaged in curriculum assessment initiatives, utilizing feedback to refine course content and align learning objectives with industry standards.
• Evaluated student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
• Created and designed quizzes, tests and projects to assess student knowledge.
• Developed strong relationships with colleagues, collaborating on curriculum development and sharing best practices in teaching strategies.
• Developed and implemented innovative teaching strategies to engage students in lectures and coursework.
• Enhanced student comprehension of complex theories through engaging lectures and interactive discussions.
• Collaborated with faculty and staff to create meaningful learning experiences.
• Mentored junior faculty and graduate students, cultivating a supportive academic environment and enhancing teaching effectiveness across the department.
• Spearheaded departmental workshops focused on pedagogical strategies, resulting in improved instructional practices and faculty development opportunities.

Key Achievements

● Led strategic media relations campaigns across Africa and Europe, boosting program visibility by 80%.

● Organized press briefings, debates, and advocacy campaigns that resulted in a 25% increase in public support and program effectiveness.

Strategic Communication Leadership

● Coordinated media legislative advocacy efforts by developing and implementing strategic communication activities, enhancing programme effectiveness by 30%.

● Led the design, development, and management of public affairs and public awareness communications programmes, achieving a 25% increase in stakeholder engagement and awareness.

● Developed and implemented the Communication Strategy for the J4A Programme, ensuring effective communication planning and execution.

● Improved the capacity of media and civil society stakeholders on anti-corruption and governance initiatives, addressing knowledge gaps and fostering better governance practices.

● Conducted daily media monitoring and response, generating comprehensive reports and ensuring timely information dissemination.

● Coordinated the Media and Publicity Unit of the organisation, managing media campaigns and media engagement activities.

Media and Public Relations

● Organized press briefings, conferences, and anti-corruption public debates, increasing public demand for improved performance and oversight of anti-corruption agencies by 80%.

● Facilitated media coverage of stakeholders' roundtables and legislative retreats, leading to an 80% increase in program visibility.

● Coordinated the production of a monthly "J4A in the Media" report, enhancing programme monitoring and evaluation.

● Cultivated a network of media and communication professionals, securing positive coverage and facilitating quick information dissemination.

● Devised public relations strategies to engage and influence the public, contributing to the achievement of program objectives.

Capacity Building and Training

● Closed knowledge gaps through capacity needs assessment and the delivery of well-researched training content, ensuring a 40% improvement in stakeholder knowledge.

● Collaborated with partners and media organizations to organize periodic media roundtables on relevant national issues, strengthening institutional mechanisms for addressing them.

Legislative Impact and Partnerships

● Initiated two key partnerships resulting in the passage of key legislation, advancing program objectives.

● Facilitated monthly media review of anti-corruption-related international cooperation instruments, increasing opportunities for Nigeria's ratification and compliance.

● Improved the program's annual performance appraisal by 50%, demonstrating significant program impact.

● Created multimedia presentations and infographics to enhance stakeholder understanding and engagement.

● Worked closely with the Component 3 team to maintain optimum communication levels for effective program delivery.

• Developed and implemented innovative curriculum materials, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes in journalism courses.
• Facilitated workshops and lectures that improved students' practical skills in multimedia reporting and ethical journalism practices.
• Mentored junior faculty members, fostering their professional development and enhancing instructional quality across the department.
• Collaborated with industry professionals to create internship opportunities, bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world application.
• Conducted research on emerging trends in media, contributing to the institute's reputation as a leader in journalism education.
• Organized guest speaker events with renowned journalists, enriching students' learning experiences and professional network opportunities.

Assistant Editor | Mar 2006 - Dec 2011

Political Editor | Oct 2008 - Dec 2009

Correspondent | Mar 2006 - Sept 2008

● Streamlined content development processes and increased publication subject matter by implementing efficient brainstorming and storyboarding, resulting in a 20% expansion in content variety.

● Managed a team of 43 reporters, assigning and overseeing article assignments, and providing concise and constructive editorial feedback, leading to a 15% increase in content quality.

● Collaborated with specialists and creative teams to produce engaging content for multiple platforms, achieving a 25% growth in audience engagement.

● Managed Grievance and Conflict in/with Niger Delta Communities as Ombudsman

● Led partnerships with NGOs and CBOs that deepened community stakeholder engagement, especially, Oil Pipeline Communities in the Niger Delta Region.