. . . Promises support for First Class, Second Class Upper students in post-graduation pursuit

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has charged students under the Amnesty scholarship scheme to intensify efforts to sustain their record of academic excellence in the universities.

Otuaro spoke while visiting the PAP scholarship students at the Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, the Western Delta University, Oghara, and the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, all in Delta State on Thursday.

He had earlier visited PAP scholarship students at the Igbinedion University, Okada, and Benson Idahosa University, Benin, all in Edo State as part of his tour of partnering institutions to interact with the managements and the students, on Wednesday.

Otuaro, who was inundated with the beautiful record of academic performance by students under the PAP scholarship scheme, stressed that the positive reports would only encourage the government to do more to invest in human capacity development.

He stated in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, that this was in line with the policy of the Tinubu administration to channel the human resources in the oil-rich Niger Delta to productive activities as part of the sustained efforts to promote peace for economic growth in the area.

Otuaro, who was briefed differently by the Vice-Chancellors of the three institutions, promised that the PAP would give the necessary support to brilliant and serious-minded students under the scheme who might want to do Master’s degree if they are able to secure admission.

He said: “Formal education is a critical aspect of this programme. We have produced many students who have First Class, Second Class Upper while others made distinctions at post graduate level.

“These excellent grades are a very encouraging way of bridging the human capacity development gap in the Niger Delta. I hold the view strongly that formal education would offer self-reliance and higher chances of success to 80 percent of beneficiaries.

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme is for the poor. When you make a great grade, we will make efforts to support your post-graduate studies. We are committed to their success in life and will offer necessary support to those who make good grades to get employment opportunities.

“We are happy and indeed the President would be encouraged by the record of performance of students of the various partnering institutions.

“I advise the students to improve on their inter-personal relationships. They should adhere to the rules and regulations of the institutions.

“It is the belief of the President that impact of government should be felt by the people not only during elections, and that is why he has taken these steps.”

The story of academic success ran through all the three universities where some of the students were retained as reward for sterling academic performance.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the Western Delta University, Prof Augustine Ikelegbe, commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Otuaro, a stakeholder with tested passion for the development of the region, to lead the PAP.

Ikelegbe said that the institution runs an innovative mentorship programme and had trained several lecturers with certification to take care of students to prevent them from straying.

He commended the amnesty students for putting up a superlative performance in character and academics saying: “One of the best students had several prizes. He topped three years of graduating sets and won several prizes. This shows that your students are very good. One other was retained as a graduate assistant in economics. We retain our best. She is on leave of absence in the UK.”

He added: “I expect the programme to be transformed and more advanced with this appointment. He ran the two Master’s degrees concurrently. Only a brilliant person can achieve that from the University of Benin. That shows class and depth, and capacity to interpret the challenges of the Niger Delta. We should have a broader, systematic and performing PAP.”

At the Edwin Clark University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samuel Ugbolue, said that the institution is proud of the achievements of the amnesty students one of whom was engaged as a Personal Assistant to the Governor of Delta State.

He assured the PAP administrator of the readiness of the institution to embrace a strengthened and expanded relationship with the PAP.

He stressed that the South-South region and indeed country need scholarship opportunity to promote human capital development.

At the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Prof Ibiyinka Fuwape, the Vice-Chancellor, said that the feedback on the students was excellent as some of them made the overall best results in the institution.

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