Rivers State University (RSU)’s First Class graduate and indigene of Bonny Kingdom, Jewel Atedou Bright stepped up his trailblazing trajectory by winning the prestigious United Kingdom (UK) Government’s Chevening Scholarship to study for a fully funded Master’s degree programme in the United Kingdom.

Jewel Atedou Bright, a native of the Ezekiel-Hart House of Grand Bonny Kingdom now joins notable indigenes of Rivers State such as the wife of Rivers State Governor and Justice of the Rivers State High Court, Justice Suzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Group Managing Director (GMD) of Access Bank PLC, Herbert Wigwe, who have been awarded the highly coveted British Government’s scholarship.

The program has since its inception in 1983 been affording aspiring young leaders from across the world, the opportunity to study for a fully funded Master’s degree at a UK university of their choice.

The emergence of Jewel Atedou Bright in such a globally competitive scene goes further to authenticate the quality of graduates being churned out by the Rivers State University (RSU) which has been noted for excellence and creativity since 1980 it was founded. It is Nigeria’s first university of Science and Technology, and also the first university to be situated in the Niger Delta. In 2014, it was rated as Nigeria’s best E-learning institution and was ranked as the 15th best university in the country.

Interestingly, Jewel Atedou Bright is Kristina Reports’ Head of Foreign Affairs Desk and Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chapel there, though on leave of absence to enable him serve his kith and kin as Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Bonny LGA.

His professional acumen and knack for analyzing global trends and availing the virtual tabloid’s teeming readership a sizzling menu of insightful reportage on diverse and trending issues as they unfold has earned him a place of honour among his colleagues.

The 2019/2020 application process saw entries from over 60,000 applicants from over 160 countries of the world, with Nigeria’s over 8,000 applications standing out as the highest in the world. However, only 49 Nigerians emerged from the 8,000 applicants to constitute the 2020/2021 Chevening cohort.

Bright, who similarly made history two years ago as the first ever first class graduate of Mass Communication in the history of the Department of Mass Communication at the Rivers State University, will now be studying for a Master’s degree in Media Practice for Development and Social Change at the world’s number one university for Development Studies, the University Of Sussex in Brighton, England.

Speaking at an induction and pre-departure ceremony for the latest Chevening scholars, the official representative of the UK Government in Nigeria and High Commissioner of Great Britain, Catroina Laing commended them on their monumental achievement in what has been such a difficult and unprecedented year, alluding to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

She urged the newly inducted scholars, who are preparing to depart the country to start their various studies across all four nations of the United Kingdom to make the best of their time in the United Kingdom and return to make a positive impact in their motherland.

In a chat with Kristina Reports after the event, Jewel Atedou Bright expressed his immense appreciation to the Government of the United Kingdom for the iconic award of scholarship, while dedicating the award to his family and his native Grand Bonny Kingdom.

“It is not lost on me that I now walk in the footprints of giants, considering the caliber of people who have gotten this award before me, it is my utmost goal that I see this Master’s degree programme to a remarkable end, make Rivers State and Bonny proud, and return to contribute my quota to solving the mire of challenges facing my native Niger Delta region,” a visibly excited Mr. Bright said.

The induction and pre-departure event also featured presentation of certificates to the 49 successful scholars from across Nigeria and orientation briefings by British High Commission staff members on how scholars can make the best of their one year in the United Kingdom.

Chevening is the United Kingdom Government’s scholarship for young leaders to study for fully funded Master’s degree programme in the United Kingdom. The scheme is administered by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom and has been operational for 37 years.

Notable Nigerian alumni members of the programme include the aforementioned Hon. Justice Suzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, wife of the Governor of Rivers State and Justice of the Rivers State High Court, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Channels Media Group, Mr. John O. Momoh, and a host of other notable government functionaries and captains of industry in the country.