Award-winning journalist and Chevening Scholar on his time at City

Life as a Chevening Scholar at City: Gaining a global perspective

Samson arrived in London ahead of the academic year, having never previously visited Europe.

“I had only ever been outside of Nigeria once and that was in 2017 when I went to Cameroon,” he continued.

“Everything here was new and different. The weather was so cold and everybody seemed to have a pet, there were dogs and cats everywhere.

"My experience has been wonderful but there was definitely a big culture shock and I had to adjust to the UK education system.”

While there have been some challenges, Samson said his time at City has taught him some invaluable lessons which he will take with him in the next steps of his career.

Making an impact: Journalism at City

While working as a journalist and editor in Lagos, Samson’s investigative journalism led to meaningful change. He exposed those in positions of power who had forged university certificates and highlighted cases of sexual abuse against women and children. He said:

While his landmark stories won an array of journalism awards and tackled important issues, Samson said he had ambitions to take his career to the next level by studying at City.

“In terms of the academic skills I have gained since being at City, I’ve learnt how to be a global journalist and that’s what I see for the next phase of my career. I want to be able to go beyond just writing in the local media, I want to go global and write more international stories."

Samson said he also plans to mentor up-and-coming journalists in the newsroom and help build a generation of vibrant young reporters who can make a global impact.

On some of the differences he has encountered since learning more about the UK media landscape, Samson said there were a lot of laws in the UK that restrict what is written..

“I’m learning more about what is acceptable through my media law modules. On the flip side, journalists here have a lot of access to accurate information via Freedom of Information requests.”

#WeAreInternational: Celebrating City’s International Students

Samson was one of the many students celebrated at the annual reception hosted by the Office for Global Engagement. International students who had each been awarded one of three highly competitive scholarships, including the Chevening Scholarship, The British Council Scholarship for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship, were invited to the reception.

Also in attendance were Ukrainian students receiving support under City’s partnership with the Ukrainian Global University. The students' education had been disrupted, or they were unable to start their studies, because of the war in Ukraine.

Commenting on the event, Professor Susannah Quinsee, Vice- President, Digital and Student Experience, who hosted the reception said:

“The evening congratulated and celebrated the achievement of our international scholarship holders who have come through highly competitive selection processes.

"Their presence enriches our community both now and in the future, and is an indication of our commitment to attracting outstanding students from around the world and giving them a valuable learning experience.”

'These gatherings are essential in fostering a sense of belonging and motivation among scholars.'

Chevening scholar Uros Rankovic (MA in Culture, Policy and Management, 2024) also attended the evening’s celebrations and said the event offered a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded students and accomplished scholars from around the world.

“Meeting new people, exchanging contact information, and sharing experiences made me feel like I was part of a vibrant community, which was truly invigorating,” he said.

“I believe that coming together for this occasion was crucial in representing our countries, networking with peers, and effectively building our careers. These gatherings are essential in fostering a sense of belonging and motivation among scholars."