The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has attributed his large-scale onshore and offshore deployment of scholarship beneficiaries to the robust backing of President Bola Tinubu.

He spoke during the pre-departure orientation for another set of 25 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries deployed by the PAP to universities across the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic session, at the agency’s head office in Abuja on Thursday.

The event featured talks on “Social and Cultural Relations in the UK”, “Academic Expectations”, “The Administration of the Scholarship”, and the presentation of laptop to each of the scholarship beneficiaries to enhance their research and thesis writing.

The scholars will pursue programmes in artificial intelligence, quantity surveying and commercial management, cyber security, business analytics, advanced structural engineering, data science, finance and financial tech, international law and security, public health, among others.

Otuaro stated that President Tinubu’s gracious approval of budgetary increase for the PAP has made it possible for more scholarship beneficiaries to be accommodated for undergraduate and post-graduate studies.

According to him, President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment has strengthened the PAP as a pathway to not only changing the Niger Delta narrative, but building the requisite manpower for the social, economic and political advancement of the area and indeed the country.

Otuaro, who was represented by his Technical Assistant, Edgar Biu, also noted that the tireless supervision of the PAP by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had also contributed immensely to the tangibles and milestones recorded by the agency.

Addressing the scholars, he said: “We are extremely grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his wholesome and strong commitment to this Programme, not only in terms of policy direction but also funding.

“Every one in the Niger Delta is happy with the President for this. It is no longer news, because all of you (scholars) also know that this Programme used to run on a low budget annually, but the President graciously approved an increase.

“This is why we are able to deploy more and more scholarship beneficiaries. So, we have every good reason as the people of the Niger Delta to applaud the President for backing this Programme strongly.

“We also appreciate immensely the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, whose supervision this office falls directly under. He has worked tirelessly with us to make sure that this Programme achieves the tangibles and milestones under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We are able to send all of you and thousands of others to universities within and outside Nigeria because of the budgetary increase. Therefore we are building the necessary human capital for the social, economic and political development of our region and indeed the country. We are, indeed, grateful to the President.”

The PAP Administrator reiterated his advice that scholarship beneficiaries should strive hard for academic excellence and avoid distractions, while also obeying the laws of their host country and the regulations of their institutions.

Otuaro added: “So I urge you to be focused as you embark on this academic journey (to the United Kingdom), a journey that promises so much. This programme is not the end of where the Niger Delta should be, but it is a pathway to changing the narrative.

“Be driven by your modest background, the sacrifices that have gone into providing this great opportunity for you, and the huge investment In your education, to achieve academic excellence.

“Make good use of this opportunity to shine and the sky will be the limit for every one of you. When you complete your programme, return home to contribute your quota to the development of the Niger Delta and our country.”

•PHOTO, L-R: Head of Education, PAP, Dr Charles Ariye; Technical Assistant to the PAP Administrator, Edgar Biu; Secretary to the Administrator, Mrs Ebimene Jackson; Director of Finance & Accounts, Samuel Obukowho; a beneficiary; Assistant Head of Education, Anthony Okon; and Audit Head, Daniel Udo; during the pre-departure orientation for another batch of the PAP foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries at the PAP head office, Abuja, on Thursday, 15 January 2026.

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