About me
ABOUT ME" PROFILE
Awwal Yelwaji Azare, (Ph.D. Unn)
Lecturer | Chief Educational Technologist | Head of Department, Accounting and Financial Studies | Digital Marketing Scholar
About Me
Awwal Yelwaji Azare is an accomplished academic leader, educator, and educational technologist with over a decade of experience in higher education, curriculum development, and digital marketing research. He currently serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing, Chief Educational Technologist at the School of Information and Office Technology Management, and Head of Department (HOD) for Accounting and Financial Studies at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Dr. Azare holds a PhD in Marketing (specializing in Digital Marketing and Advertising) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, under the supervision of Prof. J.I. Uduji. He also holds an MSc in Marketing and Media Communication Technology from the International University of Bamenda, Cameroon – a degree that uniquely blends marketing, journalism, and information technology. His doctoral dissertation examined the Effects of Digital Marketing on SME Performance in North-East Nigeria, contributing valuable insights to the growing body of knowledge on digital marketing strategies in emerging economies.
Academic Leadership
Dr. Azare has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout his career. As Acting Head of the Marketing Department, he spearheaded the NBTE accreditation process for a newly established department, ensuring full compliance with institutional standards and successfully securing accreditation status. He currently leads the Department of Accounting and Financial Studies, where he oversees curriculum development, staff supervision, student affairs, and partnerships with professional bodies and industry stakeholders. He also serves as Chief Educational Technologist, integrating instructional design, digital learning tools, and IT infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
Teaching and Mentorship
A Google Certified Educator, Dr. Azare is proficient in hybrid and online learning models, digital advertising, content creation, AI automation, and educational technology integration. He has taught undergraduate courses in Digital Marketing, Digital Advertising, Media Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Management. He has also instructed students in Mass Communication and Journalism in courses such as Marketing and Media and Photojournalism. Dr. Azare is deeply committed to student mentorship, supervising numerous undergraduate projects and fostering holistic student development through extracurricular engagement.
Research and Publications
Dr. Azare's research interests include digital marketing strategies and SME performance, social media marketing in emerging economies, hybrid learning in Nigerian polytechnics, AI automation in marketing education, educational technology and instructional design, and accounting and financial management in SMEs. He has presented his work at national conferences, including the Annual Marketing Educators Conference in Abuja and the Digital Marketing Symposium in Lagos, and has several journal articles and working papers currently under review.
Community Engagement
Beyond academia, Dr. Azare is a passionate content creator with a YouTube channel, Media links 24 studios Azarey (medialinks24studios) , where he produces educational content on Digital Marketing, Google Ads, and Canva Design. He is also a committed sports coach, training students in baseball as part of extracurricular development, and actively participates in badminton, basketball, and field hockey.
Dr. Azare is deeply engaged in community service, serving as a guest speaker for the Bauchi Chamber of Commerce on digital marketing for small businesses, offering free digital skills training to local youth, and serving as an ad-hoc reviewer for the Nigerian Journal of Marketing and Management. His contributions have been recognized through several awards, including the Google Certified Educator Recognition, a Doctoral Research Grant from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Certificate of Honor on Community Engagement Service.
Connect with Me
Dr. Azare welcomes collaboration and networking opportunities in the fields of digital marketing, educational technology, and academic leadership. He can be reached via email at yelwajiazare@gmail.com or connected through his professional platforms below.
· Website: www.medialinks24.net
· LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexsterling
· GitHub: github.com/alexsterling
· YouTube: Media links 24 studios Azarey (medialinks24studios)
