Kiki Mordi is an award-winning Nigerian investigative journalist, writer, filmmaker, speaker/event host, voiceover artist, and presenter. Currently, she is a BBC Eye reporter and head of presenting at WFM 91.7. Kiki Mordi is the founder of Documentary for Women.
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Kiki Mordi Background
Nkiru Mordi was born on the 12th of August 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, to Mr. and Mrs. Mordi. She had her primary and secondary education in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Her father died just before she got admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study medicine.
She eventually dropped out of school because of sexual harassment from a certain lecturer. This ordeal was what led her to shoot the Sex for Grades Video, which exposed the depth of the harassment culture amongst Nigerian and Ghanaian lecturers.
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Kiki Mordi Career
Kiki Mordi started her career as a radio presenter at KU Television and Radio, Benin City, in 2015. In August 2017, she became Head of Presenting at Women Radio (91.7FM), Lagos.
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That same year, she started an online petition to end the extortion and exploitation of youths by policemen. She started this petition after some Nigerian policemen invaded her home and accused her and boyfriend of being cultists.
In November 2019, Kiki became a freelance podcast producer for Audiation, Incorporated Freelance, Yaoundé. Before going into freelance producing, she was already a BBC investigative journalist.
Life At The Bay Documentary
In 2019, Kiki produced a documentary film titled, Life at the Bay in Lagos, Nigeria. The film tells of the survival and struggle of the inhabitants of Tarkwa Bay, especially the women.
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Nora Awolowo directed the film, and Real Time International Film Festival (RTIFF) selected it on the 17th of May, 2019. It was also selected to show at the 2019 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).
Career Limelight – Sex For Grades BBC Eye Documentary
On the 7th of October 2019, Kiki and her BBC Eye team released a 13-minute documentary exposing lecturers of the Universities of Lagos and Ghana who have been harassing students sexually.
The documentary video exposed the sexual harassment practices of Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the University of Lagos, Dr. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor of the University of Ghana.
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Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu is a senior lecturer of the faculty of arts, University of Lagos, and the head pastor of a branch of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria.
Dr. Ransford Gyampo is an associate professor of political science at the University of Ghana, while Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor is a lecturer at the College of Education, University of Ghana.
Kiki Mordi disguised as a student who wanted to transfer to the Economics department, while Kemi, a member of the team disguised as a 17-year-old admission seeker who had lost her dad.
They also had Zara and Abigail, who were also undercover journalists act like they required career advancements and needed guidance for their studies. It took the team nine months to complete the investigations.
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Resultant Effect Of The Sex For Grade Video
Dr. Ransford Gyampo threatened to sue BBC after the release of the video. Meanwhile, the University of Lagos suspended Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu while the Foursquare Gospel Church asked him to step down from the pulpit.
The University of Lagos also shut down the Cold Room, a room revealed in the video as a place where lecturers harass students sexually. It is located in the upper part of the schools’ senior staff club.
Since releasing the video, Kiki has received numerous commendations from several Nigerians, including celebrities and politicians. To the extent that Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria and Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President of Nigeria, urged the Nigerian government to take immediate action against sexual harassment in Nigerian universities.
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Kiki also revealed that she had received subtle threats after the release of the video. As a result of this video, the Sex-For-Grade bill has passed its second reading in the Senate.
Kiki Mordi Awards And Nominations
- Nominee for The Most Promising Young Presenter (TV/Radio) at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards – 2015
- Outstanding Radio Program Presenter (South-South) at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards – 2016
- Nominee for the On-air Personality of the Year (Female) at the Scream All-Youth Awards – 2016
- Nominated for The Future Awards Africa in Prize for Journalism category – 2019
- Gage Awards Recipient – 2019
- Journalist of the Year at the People Journalism Prize for Africa – 2019
- Nominated amongst the 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians by Avance Media – 2019
- Woman of the Year by Her Network Online – 2019
- The prize for Advocacy at the Under 30 CEO’s Awards/Dinner by the CEO Network Africa – 2019
- The Freedom Fighter Awards at the Freedom Awards – 2019
- The prize for Journalism at the Media Awards – 2019
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Kiki Mordi Quotes
“Everyone deserves to be free and in every space.”
“No one is free until everyone is free; And this is why we fight!”
“Once we begin to see women as humans with as much right to occupy spaces as men. We would have removed the foundation upon which gender-based violence thrives.”
“Freedom is exercising your rights getting an education without the fear of sexual harassment.”
“It’s time we moved the shame from victim to perpetrator. They’re the ones that should be ashamed.”
“…In reality, we are all losing. We’re losing our planet to plastic. Reduce, reuse, recycle.”
“Skincare routine: Sip wine and mind my business.”
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“Slowly but surely, I’m going to build myself a fantastic portfolio.”
“…Be the mother and father a daughter or a son can come to for support.”
More Quotes
“Don’t be ashamed of your church, your religion, your faith. But don’t be silent.”
“…Do not be indifferent because your silence makes you complicit. And do not wait until a problem gets to your doorstep before you demand justice.”
“Success means different things to different people and it’s okay if it’s money. You may not be famous but if your craft fetches you the money, you’re not a failure!”
“It’s okay if it’s fame you aspire for. Your goal can be to ensure your name is on the lips of every household and that’s valid too.”
“…It’s okay to want to make a difference. It’s not cheesy, don’t let them tell you otherwise.”
“…There are days when passion won’t see you through but the purpose will.”
“Give yourself permission to be free. Letting go isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.”
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Entrepreneurial Lessons
Be Strong And Determined
Kiki Mordi has proven to be a strong and determined person, who didn’t let her experience at the university break her down nor lead her to end her career pursuit.
Instead, she stood above the situation, and today she is a voice for everyone who has experienced such ordeal. She has also taken steps to ensure the whole sex for grade assault is curbed in Nigerian and Ghanaian universities.
An entrepreneur should be strong-willed and determined, such that nothing breaks you. Instead, of letting challenges stop you from achieving your goal, you should rise above it.
It is tough to run a business especially in Africa, so kudos to all the entrepreneurs making things happen.
Image Credit: @kikimordi – Instagram