Professor Sandra Chidinma Duru is an innovative scholar-practitioner and global advocate with over 20 years of leadership in public policy, governance, gender security, and strategic communication. She effortlessly combines rigorous academic research with high-impact civic engagement, media science, and entrepreneurial ventures across Africa and the Diaspora. She specializes in social justice in Africa, with expertise in media science, public administration, disinformation, crisis communication, reputation management, and public relations.
In business, she has been Managing Director/CEO of Sanchhy Nigeria Limited, [1] Zest Media and Entertainment, and Executives Cable and Electronics Company, [2] and managed a boutique in Lagos. [1] In government, she played a role in the election of Rochas Okorocha as governor of Imo State in 2011 [3] and has been an advisor to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, [3] the Police Women Unit, the Police Service Commission, and Kulfana Mining Company. [2] In 2013 she considered forming her own political party and running for the state governorship herself. [2]
She is the founder of Pre-Adult Affairs Organization, an NGO recognized by the United Nations; in 2015 she announced the launch of an associated TV programme aimed at 9–35-year-olds, Bare It Out! With Sandra Duru. [4] In 2014, the Nigerian Ambassador to Ivory Coast, Ifeoma Akabogu-Chinwuba, honoured her for her "contributions to providing solutions to the unemployment, violence and educational problems in Nigeria". [5] In 2016 she launched a new project, The Unity and Peace Project 2016–2020 (The Up Project). [6]
There are limited details about her early education, but her subsequent endeavors shows a commitment to continuous learning and personal development and in her recent videos posted on her verified Facebook page, she revealed what her education journey looks like. She holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from African American University, USA, awarded in 2025, with a dissertation titled “Weaponizing Policy: The Use of Gender-Based Laws for Political Persecution & Social Manipulation – A Case for Institutional Protection of Men’s Rights in Public Administration”. Prior to that, she obtained both her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Public Administration from Escae Benin University, Benin Republic, in June 2015 and June 2014 respectively. She is also certified public relations professional, having earned a Certificate in Public Relations from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in 2013. [7] [8] [9]
She founded and has led Mgbeke Village Hut LLC since 2018, a company involved in organic food, skincare, and health-supplement production. She established the Pre-Adult Affairs Organization in 1999, The Unique Family Foundation (recognised by the United Nations), Wenetly Business School, Sanchhy Nigeria Limited, Mgbeke Group, Zest Media & Entertainment, and Mgbeke Media. [10]