The dreams of 150 young Nigerians from the Niger Delta have received a major lift as the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) dispatched them to leading universities in the United Kingdom for postgraduate studies.
The latest deployment, described as a major investment in the region’s human capital, was announced during a pre-departure orientation held at the PAP headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, urged the people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the development and peace of the region by voting massively for him in the 2027 general elections.
Otuaro said the scholarship initiative goes beyond academic sponsorship, stressing that it is part of a deliberate strategy to build a highly skilled generation capable of transforming the Niger Delta and contributing meaningfully to national development.
The latest 150 beneficiaries bring the number of PAP-sponsored scholars deployed to overseas institutions in 2026 to 243, following earlier deployments of 93 beneficiaries in January and May.
According to Otuaro, about 270 other beneficiaries were already studying in universities across the UK before the latest deployment, in fields including cybersecurity, software engineering, data science, law, forensic audit, fintech, construction engineering management, public health and oil and gas engineering.
“This is an investment for a greater and better tomorrow,” Otuaro said, noting that the programme is designed to close the human-capital gap in the Niger Delta while supporting lasting peace and stability.
He disclosed that PAP currently has about 8,700 beneficiaries undergoing training within Nigeria, while its offshore scholarship programme has produced graduates across undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes.
Otuaro also revealed that 57 offshore beneficiaries had graduated, many with distinctions, while the programme had recorded 54 master’s and doctoral graduates from onshore universities. In the 2024/2025 academic session, more than 50 beneficiaries reportedly graduated with first-class honours, while over 134 obtained second-class upper division.
While commending President Tinubu for supporting the programme, Otuaro said the President’s interventions in the Niger Delta deserved recognition.
“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,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his supervision and contributions to the programme.
The PAP administrator charged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, obey the laws of the UK and respect the rules of their respective institutions.
He further urged them to return home after completing their programmes and use the knowledge and skills acquired abroad to contribute to the development of their communities and Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Opukeme Gideon, an MSc Cyber Security student at the University of Aberdeen, and Afiyagba Peredisabofa, an MSc Oil and Gas student at Coventry University, thanked President Tinubu and Dr Otuaro for the opportunity.
They pledged to study diligently and make the Niger Delta and Nigeria proud.
The initiative also received commendation from prominent Niger Delta stakeholders, including PANDEF Chairman, Dr Boladei Igali; Prof. Ben Binebai; Niger Delta activist AnnKio Briggs; Delta State Governor’s Senior Policy Adviser, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon; and Ijaw Youth Council President, Dr Doubra Okotete.
The stakeholders praised the Federal Government for sustaining the scholarship programme and commended Otuaro for expanding its reach, describing it as a legacy investment capable of impacting generations.
With 150 new scholars preparing to begin their academic journeys in the UK, the PAP initiative continues to position education as a powerful tool for youth empowerment, peace-building and long-term development in the Niger Delta.