August 6, 2025 – The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has raised concern over reports that some stakeholders are allegedly collecting money from unsuspecting applicants during the ongoing scholarship application process for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Speaking at the opening of the third batch of the three-day Strategic Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation Training for PAP stakeholders, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, on Wednesday, Otuaro warned that the act is fraudulent and unacceptable.
According to him, “I have received reports alleging some stakeholders collect money from applicants, parents and guardians with fake promises concerning the ongoing scholarship application process for the 2025/2026 academic year. For the avoidance of doubt, the scholarship application process is free. No one should collect money from anybody; nobody should encourage someone to collect or give money to anybody for the scholarship exercise. It is free.”
He urged potential beneficiaries to resist paying any amount to anyone for the scholarship, emphasising that the application process for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes remains completely free and must be conducted only through the official PAP portal.
He assured applicants that all processes would be handled fairly, maintaining that the purpose of the scheme will not be derailed by unscrupulous individuals.
“The scholarship programme is a deliberate scheme for our people for a better tomorrow, it is not for our today. My leadership is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability even in the management of the scholarship award process,” he said.
Otuaro described the alleged actions of those involved in the collection of money as regrettable and a dent on the integrity of the scholarship application process.
He cautioned those engaging in the illicit act to desist immediately, warning that anyone caught attempting to exploit the scheme for extortion would face strict consequences.
“We will take drastic steps against anyone attempting to divert the opportunity of the scheme to swindle innocent people,” he stated.
Highlighting the importance of the scholarship scheme, Otuaro explained that it is designed to increase Niger Delta youths’ access to higher education and strengthen human capital development in the region.
He reiterated that the PAP will not allow anyone to compromise the integrity of the application process, assuring that all qualified candidates will be given equal opportunity.
Addressing the participants of the training workshop, Otuaro noted that the programme was aimed at deepening their knowledge on leadership, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution to enable them to perform better as PAP’s peace ambassadors in their communities and across the Niger Delta.
“You are, in fact, also peace ambassadors of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR. Therefore, you are expected to deploy the knowledge you would gain from this training to strengthen the ongoing peacebuilding process of PAP because the development of the region is in the priority agenda of the President,” Otuaro said.
He encouraged all stakeholders to take the training seriously, stressing that it is crucial for the achievement of peace, stability, and development in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Otuaro restated that all applicants must apply through the PAP portal and wait for official communication from the office. He appealed to community leaders, parents, and guardians to help discourage the payment of money for scholarships, warning that such actions undermine the credibility of the process and harm the programme’s goal of supporting genuine beneficiaries.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s determination to uphold transparency in the management of the PAP scholarship awards and ensure that the programme delivers on its objective of creating educational and developmental opportunities for the Niger Delta youth.