Bassey Oben was born on March 23, 1968, at Ikom, Central Cross River State in South-South Nigeria. He studied at the University of Calabar, Nigeria and the Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon – France. He holds a Ph.D in African Literature and Culture in French and is a university teacher with eighteen (18) years teaching and administrative experience. Dr. Oben is a youth facilitator and civil society activist. He was Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Cross River State chapter, from 2008–2010 and midwifed the first credible electoral process in the hitherto beleaguered youth body, which has come to stay till date. He is also a practicing journalist.