There is no disputing the fact that Akwa United’s in the last few years has the imprimatur of Paul Bassey- the journalist-turned sports administrator.

He excelled as a journalist with enduring signposts as he started his career at defunct Nigerian Chronicle newspaper in 1977. He was promoted to the rank of Sports Editor four years later. In 1986, Bassey joined The Punch Newspapers as a sports editor and was appointed group sports editor at the Champion Newspapers Five years later. He was later promoted to the position of deputy general manager. He left Champion Newspapers to establish a daily sports paper, Today Sports (now defunct) – a publication of DP Communications Ltd., with its corporate headquarters and publishing house in Ikeja, Lagos. The versatile Bassey anchored one of the popular Nigeria Television Sports programmes on NTA, Master Sports in the 1990s.

But he has proved his mettle as an administrator  overtime serving in various media-related committees  and match commissioner and coordinator at various times with the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Confederation of  African Football (CAF) as well at the global level with FIFA.

In 2016, Bassey was appointed by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as Senior Special Assistant on Sports and chairman, Akwa United Football Club. Within four years of his administration, the club has been transformed into a big sports brand.

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Under Bassey, Akwa United won their second domestic cup title in 2017 and recorded their highest ever finish in the Nigerian topflight, placing fourth at the end of the 2016-17 NPFL. The following season, the club looked on course to winning their first-ever Nigeria Professional Football League title, but the campaign ended prematurely. As of the time the league season ended, Akwa United were second on the log – just two points behind table-toppers, Lobi Stars. This season, the Promise Keepers went a step further by clinching their first NPFL title in 25 years of their existence.

Bassey, an ordained Elder of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria expressed his appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State’s Governor Udom Emmanuel for the confidence reposed in him even as he hailed the extraordinary technical crew and the management team that made his assignment seamless.

“I still can’t believe I am not dreaming. It was when I woke up and found the trophy in my possession that the reality of what we have achieved actually dawned on me,” Bassey said after Sunday’s victory at home against MFM. “It has been a very tough and challenging season for us and winning the league title for the good people of Akwa Ibom State and our number one supporter, Governor Udom Emmanuel.

“We are happy to continue to showcase what we have got and ensuring that we continue to put Akwa Ibom and Nigeria on the world map. We are just starting and we will continue to do our utmost to sustain the momentum.”