Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has charged beneficiaries of the Programme’s foreign postgraduate scholarship to excel in their studies and justify the confidence reposed in them by the Federal Government.
Otuaro gave the charge on Thursday at a pre-departure briefing for 12 foreign postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries heading to universities in the United Kingdom, held at the PAP headquarters in Abuja.
The orientation featured sessions on Social and Cultural Relations in the UK, Academic Expectations, Administration of the Scholarship, as well as the presentation of laptops to each beneficiary to support research and thesis work.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, Otuaro urged the scholars to remain focused and disciplined, stressing that they must not disappoint President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, the Niger Delta, and the PAP.
According to him, the scholars represent a lasting legacy of the PAP’s human capital development drive, whose impact will become evident in the years ahead.
Otuaro disclosed that President Tinubu and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) were pleased with the growing number of beneficiaries sent overseas, despite earlier speculations that the foreign scholarship component of the Programme had been discontinued.
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He noted that the President and the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, were deeply committed to the Niger Delta’s human capital development and socio-economic growth, and were providing strong institutional backing for the Programme.
“Today, we are sending you out of the country for postgraduate programmes in the United Kingdom, and we believe we are sending our best. There should be no room for laxity. Put in your best and make the best of this opportunity,” Otuaro said.
“We are very careful with our selection process because we do not want anybody to abuse the system under my watch. Credit must be given to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Some people thought foreign scholarship deployments would no longer be possible, but the President appreciates what we have been doing.”
“The Office of the National Security Adviser, which supervises this Programme, and the NSA himself, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, have expressed satisfaction with the initiative. They are working tirelessly to promote the socio-economic and political advancement of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large,”Otuaro added.
“So, I don’t want you to disappoint the President over something he is so happy about. Don’t disappoint the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the Niger Delta. Stakeholders believe that awarding scholarships to qualified beneficiaries is the right thing to do, and the legacy will manifest in the years to come.”
Otuaro further emphasized that the courses of study were deliberately selected to be industry-driven, adding that upon completion of their programmes, the beneficiaries would be expected to contribute meaningfully to regional and national development.
“We will continue to build critical manpower for the Niger Delta and the nation. When you do well, others will be encouraged, and so will the President and the NSA. You are ambassadors of the President and of this Programme,” he said.
He also assured MSc candidates that outstanding performance could open doors for further academic support, including PhD sponsorships.
“For those pursuing MSc programmes, if you do well and qualify for PhD, there is nothing stopping us from supporting your academic progression. Be diligent and work hard,” he added.
The PAP boss reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to transparency, merit, and the overall interest of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Arafiena Shekinah Nkem (MSc Project Management, University of Liverpool) and Omokaro Rick Efosa (MSc Supply Chain and Logistics Management, Coventry University) expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the NSA, and the PAP leadership for the opportunity, pledging to remain focused and excel in their studies.
