Offiong Andem Bassey, the youngest Otuekong in Nigeria, has added another remarkable feather to his cap as he emerged a recipient of the highly coveted Presidential Scholarship under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The award, worth over £47,000, was formally confirmed in a letter signed by the Administrator of PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, who emphasised that such investments in human capital development were critical to sustaining peace, stability, and national security in the Niger Delta.
Bassey’s scholarship journey was strongly reinforced by a glowing recommendation from distinguished Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, whose endorsement significantly boosted his application and underscored his proven track record of excellence and potential for leadership impact.
Bassey’s outstanding academic and professional record also earned him four other international scholarship offers, including the Chancellor’s International Scholarship,
The Global Impact Master’s Scholarship,
The DAAD International Media Studies (IMS) Master’s Scholarship in Bonn, Germany, which supports journalists and media professionals from developing and transition countries, and
the European Union Scholars Programme.
Despite the multiple international opportunities, Bassey has chosen to accept the Presidential Scholarship while deferring some of the other offers. He has already resumed studies for his Master’s degree in Media and Public Relations at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.
A distinguished alumnus of the University of Calabar, Bassey graduated among the Top 5 Students of his faculty and emerged as the Best Graduating Student of Theatre and Media Studies in the 2021 set. His journey reflects an inspiring blend of academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to national service.
This milestone marks not just a personal achievement for Offiong Bassey, but also a testament to the transformative role of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in equipping young leaders with the tools to drive development and foster stability in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.