The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says it has deployed over 9,000 scholarship beneficiaries to universities within and outside Nigeria between 2024 and 2025 as part of efforts to secure a better future for the Niger Delta through education.
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, disclosed this on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the fifth batch of the two-day Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training for PAP stakeholders. The training was organised by the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) and held at the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja.
Otuaro described the PAP scholarship scheme as a major vehicle for ensuring long-term peace, stability, and development in the Niger Delta, noting that the large-scale deployment of students was a deliberate strategy to use formal education to strengthen communities in the region.
According to him, the current leadership of the programme has prioritised education as a way of investing in young people and preparing them to become drivers of future prosperity. He said the goal is to equip youths with the skills and mindset needed to handle challenges related to peace, security, and socio-economic growth.
He said, “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 9000 scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria; in-country deployment alone this year is 4500.”
Otuaro explained that the decision was based on the need to prepare the next generation for future responsibilities. “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,” he said.
He warned that failure to invest in education would put the region’s future at risk. “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,” Otuaro stated.
The PAP administrator expressed confidence that beneficiaries would value the opportunity given to them. “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,” he added.
Otuaro said the capacity-building workshop was organised to consolidate the PAP peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. He told participants that they have a critical role to play in sustaining peace because they are stakeholders and leaders within their communities.
He said the time had come for stakeholders to unite and resolve issues in the region without the involvement of outsiders. He urged participants to act as role models for stability and peace ambassadors of President Tinubu in the Niger Delta, stressing that peacebuilding should remain their watchword.
Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his steady support for the PAP, saying the president is pleased with the existing peace and stability in the Niger Delta. He also applauded the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his encouragement and strategic supervision. He further thanked the management of the Nigerian Army War College, resource persons, and the leadership and members of the AANDEC for partnering with the PAP to strengthen peacebuilding efforts across the region.
