Dr Kadiri Kehinde Kadijat, an achiever in the realm of humanitarian photography, seamlessly intertwines her roles as an accomplished academic and seasoned Mass Communication scholar with a profound commitment to health communication, digital media, advertising, and humanitarianism.
In the academic sphere, Dr Kadiri is a beacon of knowledge, having taught advertising, public relations, and journalism courses for over 16 years in the Mass Communication Department at the University of Ilorin. Her dedication to fostering talent in the advertising field is evident in her organisation of advertising pitch competitions named Pitch-A-Ton since 2019, bringing together nine tertiary institutions across four states in North-Central and South-West Nigeria.
Two of these pitch competitions were in collaboration with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria. Her academic prowess extends to publications in both national and international journals, exploring the intricacies of advertising campaigns and health communication. Dr Kadiri’s scholarly pursuits have led her to present papers at various conferences on corporate and strategic communications, solidifying her status as a thought leader in the academic and professional spheres.
Her journey is not merely one of acclaim but a narrative of profound impact, where academic brilliance and compassionate leadership converge to create a legacy that transcends disciplines and uplifts communities.
Beyond academia, Dr Kadiri emerges as a trailblazer, utilising her extensive knowledge in advertising and digital marketing to orchestrate impactful endeavours through the NGO she founded in 2017, The Grassroots Aid Initiative (TGAI). With tact, she employs strategic digital photography storytelling on social media to vividly portray the challenges faced by rural communities in about five states in Nigeria while soliciting funds to help these communities.
This strategic narrative approach not only raises awareness but has also ignited tangible impacts, from securing scholarships for indigent pupils and students in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions to constructing a home for the vulnerable and providing 21 boreholes for helpless communities in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and Lagos States.
Her trailblazing projects have earned her a constellation of over 20 prestigious awards, including the Gani Fawehinmi Award for Outstanding Impact in 2019, the Outstanding Young Woman of the Year 2021 by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Ogun State Chapter), and the coveted Leadership Impact Award of 2022 by CSR Reporters, to mention just a few. This illustrious recognition serves as a testament to her transformative influence, showcasing the captivating prowess of her advertising acumen in shaping a positive trajectory of change within her environment.
She obtained her first degree in Mass Communication at the prestigious University of Lagos and a second degree, M.A. in Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, before proceeding to Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia, for her PhD in Communication. She earned certificates in Total Brand Experience from O2 Academy and in the Social Sector Management Programme from the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University.
She is an Associate Professor and the current Head of Department at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Kwara State. She is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the South African Communication Association, the American Political Science Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the African Studies Association of Africa.