FG gives scholarship to Niger Delta ex-militants to study medicine

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says it has perfected arrangements to train some beneficiaries of the programme in medical sciences and health profession to bridge the manpower gap in the sector in Niger Delta region.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), on Friday, said it has perfected arrangements to train some beneficiaries of the programme in medical sciences and health profession.

The Interim Administrator of the programme, Col. Mlland Dixon Dikio (rtd), disclosed this when he led a team from the office to inspect facilities at the Bayelsa State Medical University in Yenagoa as part of the arrangements to commence the training.

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He said part of the objectives of such training was to bridge the manpower gap in the health sector of the Niger Delta.

He said the selection process for the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s scholarship scheme must be based on merit where the beneficiaries of the scheme must compete for placements in the best universities, adding that scholarship is a privilege and not a right.

He told the management of the university that the tour was designed to assess the capacity of the institution to train some beneficiaries of PAP as health professionals.

He said: “We are here today as part of our partnership and strategic linkages with institutions of learning across the country and beyond, to meet with the Vice-Chancellor and his team at the Bayelsa Medical University to assess the institution’s capacity and capabilities to train some of our beneficiaries as medical professionals.

“Indeed, we are determined to train some of our beneficiaries in this sector who are capable of being employed in careers in the diverse field of medical science to bridge the manpower gap in the region.”

Responding, the Vice Chancellor of the Bayelsa State Medical University, Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, thanked the team for the visit and assured it of the institution’s readiness to provide its students with modern medical knowledge and skills to give them an edge over other graduates in the labour market.