FG securing better future for N/Delta through PAP scholarships — Otuaro

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has described the programme’s scholarship scheme as a major vehicle towards ensuring a better future for the Niger Delta. He also stated that the decision for the massive deployment of scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria was informed by the need to […]

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has described the programme’s scholarship scheme as a major vehicle towards ensuring a better future for the Niger Delta.

He also stated that the decision for the massive deployment of scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria was informed by the need to utilise formal education to build a sure future for the communities in the region.

Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator of PAP, Mr Igoniko Oduma, in a statement on Thursday, said Dr Otuaro stated this while declaring open the fifth batch of the two-day “Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation Training for PAP Stakeholders” organised by his office in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) at the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja, on Thursday.

He said his leadership’s focus on education was aimed at investing in the youths as a deliberate effort to equip them to be drivers of the planned prosperity, peace, stability and development of the Niger Delta in the years ahead.

The statement reads in part: “We have seriously focused on education, and the scholarship programme is a proper vehicle for a better tomorrow for our region. So far, between 2024 and 2025, we have deployed over 9,000 scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria. In-country deployment alone this year is 4,500.

“These are deliberate efforts we are taking to prepare our region for tomorrow. We need to prepare the next generation for the challenges of peace, socio-economic growth, development and security.

“If we don’t equip our youths today with education, tomorrow would not be assured. It is time to prepare for the rainy day; that is why we are deliberately investing in the education of our young ones.

“I believe that the scholarship beneficiaries will appreciate this opportunity that we are giving to them. For nearly two years, we have tried as much as possible to impact nearly all communities through the scholarship programme.”

Otuaro explained that the capacity-building workshop was organised to consolidate PAP’s peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta.

He told the participants that they had a great role to play in the task of deepening the peacebuilding process because they were stakeholders and leaders in their own right.

He extended gratitude to the management of the Nigerian Army War College, resource persons and the leadership and membership of the AANDEC for partnering with PAP to deepen the peacebuilding process in the region.