•Hails Tinubu for prevailing peace in Niger Delta

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro,has urged people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate the developmental efforts of the President Bola Tinubu by voting massively for him in the 2027 elections.

Otuaro spoke as the PAP sent a new batch of 150 post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom.

The figure brings to 243 the total number of offshore deployments the PAP, under the leadership of Dr Otuaro, has made this year with 93 dispatched in January and May.

Before these recent deployments, about 270 had been sent and are studying various programmes- cyber security, software engineering, data science analytics, law, forensic audit, fintech analytics, construction engineering management, global public health, oil and gas engineering, among others- in universities in the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation for the fresh 150 beneficiaries held at the PAP headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, Dr Otuaro described the scholarships as an investment for a greater tomorrow for communities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

He reiterated that the large-scale sponsorships were also aimed at sustaining peace and stability, and closing the region’s human capital development gap while building a huge human resource base for the area.

Dr Otuaro said, “We are again here to send some of the most brilliant and vibrant youths of the Niger Delta for post-graduate studies in select disciplines in the UK.

"We are able to do this because, our father and leader, Mr President is committed to the peace, security and development of the Niger Delta.

"I must say that as a people, we should make sure we vote massively to ensure his victory in the 2027 general elections. This is the best way to show gratitude to a President who has taken these deliberate steps to help our people and the region.

“This year, in January and May, we had sent 93 beneficiaries for offshore post-graduate programmes. Now, we have 150 that we are sending abroad, and about 56 made first class while about 140 made second-class upper division. We already have 270 in UK universities before these recent deployments.

“This exercise underscores our commitment to ensuring that the Niger Delta youths have greater access to higher education within and outside Nigeria as we build a solid foundation for the region’s future.”

According to him, the large-scale deployments were made possible by the unprecedented support of President Tinubu for the programme under his Renewed hope Agenda.

“As of today, we have 8700 in-country. That is what President Tinubu has done for the Niger Delta. By the grace of God, we are going to increase the number this year.

“We have deployed 270 beneficiaries to offshore universities: 11 for undergraduate programmes, 238 for master’s degrees, and 21 for PhDs.

"While 57 have graduated, many with distinction, 248 are in-training. From onshore universities, we have recorded 54 master’s and doctoral graduates. In the 2024/2025 academic year, we recorded over 50 first class and over 134 second-class upper division.

“That is our investment for a greater and better tomorrow because it will help our communities and our region tomorrow”, Dr Otuaro added.

He expressed appreciation to the President for his massive support, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his efficient supervision, deep insights and professional inputs that have helped the programme.

The PAP boss urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and be good ambassadors of Nigeria and the Niger Delta, stressing that they are expected to come back home after their programmes and add value to their communities and nation-building in the spirit of patriotism.

He also advised them to respect the laws of the country in which they would be studying and the rules and regulations of their respective institutions.

Two of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of others, Opukeme Gideon (MSc, Cyber Security, University of Aberdeen), and Afiyagba Peredisabofa (MSc, Oil and Gas, Coventry University), thanked President Tinubu and Dr Otuaro for the opportunity, pledging to study hard and make the nation and the region proud.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr Boladei Igali; Prof. Ben Binebai of the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State; Niger Delta activist, AnnKio Briggs; Senior Policy Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon; and the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr Doubra Okotete, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for sustaining the programme and investing in the region’s youths.

They commended Dr Otuaro for his vision and the expansion of the scholarship scheme, adding that “it is a legacy that will impact several generations.”

They also lauded the PAP helmsman for his sensitivity to gender parity in the painstaking selection process, pointing out that the female-to-male ratio was very pleasing.

At the event, the beneficiaries were sensitized on ‘Social and Cultural Dynamics’, ‘Academic and School Expectations of Your Trip’, ‘Security Dynamics of Schooling Abroad’, and ‘Obligations of the PAP Office to Beneficiaries/Economic Prudence’.

Other stakeholders of the Niger Delta present at the event were the PANDEF Secretary, Engr. Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, and the Treasure, Hon. Mrs Ifeoma Agbomah; and the Ijaw Women Connect (IWC) led by its President, Mrs Rosemary Oduone.

•PHOTO: PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro front row, middle), flanked by Niger Delta stakeholders and the beneficiaries at the event.