By Rhoda Godwin
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has attributed the large-scale deployment of scholarship beneficiaries to President Bola Tinubu’s strong financial and policy support for the programme.
Otuaro spoke during a pre-departure orientation for 25 foreign postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries being deployed to universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025/2026 academic session. The event was held on Thursday at the PAP headquarters in Abuja.
The orientation featured sessions on social and cultural relations in the UK, academic expectations, scholarship administration, and the presentation of laptops to each scholar to support research and thesis work.
The beneficiaries will study courses including artificial intelligence, quantity surveying and commercial management, cyber security, business analytics, advanced structural engineering, data science, financial technology, international law and security, and public health, among others.
Otuaro explained that the President’s approval of an increased budget for the PAP has expanded access to both undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship opportunities, enabling more beneficiaries to be deployed locally and abroad.
According to him, the renewed support has strengthened the programme as a strategic tool for changing the Niger Delta narrative and building skilled manpower for the region’s social, economic and political development.
Represented by his Technical Assistant, Edgar Biu, Otuaro also commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his effective supervision, which he said has contributed significantly to the programme’s achievements.
“We are extremely grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his strong commitment to this programme in terms of policy direction and funding. The budget increase has made it possible for us to deploy more scholars and build the necessary human capital for national development,” he said.
He further praised Ribadu for working tirelessly to ensure the programme meets the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Addressing the scholars, Otuaro urged them to remain focused, obey the laws of their host country, and uphold the regulations of their institutions.
“This journey promises great opportunities. Be motivated by your background and the sacrifices invested in your education to pursue academic excellence. Make good use of this opportunity and return home to contribute meaningfully to the development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria,” he advised.
