By Our Correspondent

Renowned Nigerian communication scholar, public relations leader, and Associate Professor of Mass Communication at Achievers University, Owo, Dr. Chike Walter DuruDr. Chike Walter Duru, has been appointed a Research Fellow of INTI International University, Malaysia, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to strategic communication, media studies, governance, international development and communication research.

The appointment, which takes effect from 19 May 2026 through 31 December 2028, places Dr. Duru among an international network of scholars committed to advancing collaborative research, innovation, and global academic engagement.

According to the official appointment letter signed by the Vice-Chancellor of INTI International University, Professor Joseph Lee, the fellowship is designed to promote excellence in research, enhance institutional research standards, and foster international scholarly collaboration.

As a Research Fellow, Dr. Duru 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 provides opportunities for research funding and institutional support for the dissemination of research outputs.

The appointment represents another milestone in the career of one of Nigeria’s most accomplished strategic communication and development experts.

Dr. Duru currently serves as the Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Achievers University, Owo, where he combines 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 such as 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 the Governor of Imo State, where he spearheaded strategic government communication and public engagement initiatives. He is 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 includes 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 fifty 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 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 note that the fellowship further strengthens the international profile of Achievers University, Owo, and reflects the growing global recognition of Nigerian scholars making significant contributions to research, innovation, and development.

Dr. 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), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), and the Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday said that Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders for the nation to move in the right direction and make meaningful progress.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor stated this when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.

According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people. He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.

“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.

“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.

Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.

“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime?At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.

Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.

Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.

By David Owei

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, received Kenyan lawyer and activist, Professor Patrice Lumumba and his wife, Celestine, in Government House, Yenagoa, with a call on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to intensify efforts at enforcing discipline and best practices among its members.

Governor Diri made the call when the executives of the Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, visited him to introduce the eminent professor who is in the state to deliver a keynote address at the plenary session of the 2026 Law Week.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, the Bayelsa Chief Executive emphasized the need for the NBA to work with other critical stakeholders to protect the ethical values and professional conduct among legal practitioners to forestall further erosion of the nobility and respect associated with their profession.

Governor Diri, however, commended the Yenagoa NBA for its vibrancy and commitment to promoting legal scholarship, public discourse and professional excellence.

According to him, the NBA Yenagoa branch was creating a platform through its 2026 Law Week for meaningful conversations that would inspire positive change and strengthen democratic institutions in Bayelsa and the country at large.

He, however, urged the Association to use the Conference as a peer review mechanism to ascertain where it was, where it is and where it is supposed to be in terms of global best practices in the legal profession.

Governor Diri, who described Professor Patrick Lumumba as a powerful voice for good governance, accountability, Pan-African development and principled leadership in Africa, urged the former Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to make Bayelsa his home.

His words: “We are especially delighted to learn that your 2026 Law Week will feature one of Africa’s most respected legal minds, a public intellectual and advocate of ethical leadership, Professor Patrick Lumumba, as the keynote speaker.

“Professor Lumumba is a known and powerful voice for good governance, accountability, Pan-African development, and principled leadership. His presence in Bayelsa is not only an honour to the Nigerian Bar Association, Yenagoa Branch, but also a valuable opportunity for intellectual engagement and reflection on the future of our nation and continent.

“The theme of your Law Week, ” Securing the Future”, is both timely and profound. It speaks to the collective responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens to build a society founded on justice, equity, accountability, and sustainable development.

“These are values Professor Lumumba has consistently championed and which align closely with the vision of the ASSURED Prosperity Administration.

“As a government, we commend the Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, for its commitment to promoting legal scholarship, public discourse, and professional excellence. We are particularly pleased that through this year’s Law Week, the branch is creating a platform for meaningful conversations that will inspire positive change and strengthen our democratic institutions.”

In his brief remarks, Professor Patrice Lumumba, noted that Nigeria still occupies an important position in Africa, stressing that whenever Nigeria punches its weight, the entire continent would realize her full potential.

Professor Lumumba, who expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his wife, said it was his second visit to Bayelsa State, which he described as a strategic geographical location with high prospects of development.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Clement Kekemeke, noted that the eminent Professor Lumumba was specially invited as keynote speaker NBA Law Week to give the programme an international visibility.

Expressing the NBA’s gratitude to Governor Diri and his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, for granting them audience, Mr. Kekemeke disclosed that the Yenagoa NBA currently boasts of over 1,500 practicing lawyers in its fold, making it one of largest in the South South geopolitical zone of the country.

The Yenagoa NBA Executives were accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Mr. Jude Rex-Ogbuku, and an elder of the Bar, Chief Fedude Zimughan (SAN).