Coalition Commends Tinubu, Otuaro Over Unprecedented PAP Scholarship Expansion-Group Says Otuaro Is Transforming the Presidential Amnesty Programme into a Vehicle for Human-Capital Development, Pledges Support for Tinubu Administration
The Coalition of Niger Delta Peace Advocates and Development Stakeholders has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), describing the appointment as a strategic decision that is yielding significant results in education, youth empowerment and human-capital development across the Niger Delta.
The coalition, in a statement issued following the opening of the PAP scholarship application portal, said Dr. Otuaro had demonstrated that one of the most sustainable ways to transform the Niger Delta was through education, skills acquisition and deliberate investment in its people.
According to the coalition, available figures from the programme indicate that 8,500 Niger Delta youths have been secured for admission into universities in Nigeria, while 247 scholars are pursuing postgraduate studies at universities in the United Kingdom, bringing the cited total to 8,747 beneficiaries.
The coalition described the scale of the scholarship intervention as a significant milestone in the history of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“This is not merely a scholarship programme; it is an investment in the future of the Niger Delta. Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro has demonstrated that the greatest resource of the region is not crude oil, but the human beings who inhabit it.”
The group said Otuaro’s emphasis on education was consistent with his stated conviction that “education and human-capital development is my utmost priority for the Niger Delta.”
TINUBU DESERVES COMMENDATION
The coalition also praised President Tinubu for entrusting the Presidential Amnesty Programme to Otuaro, saying the appointment had provided an opportunity for the Federal Government’s renewed development agenda to reach young people across the Niger Delta.
It described Otuaro as a “strategic choice for a new phase of the Amnesty Programme,” arguing that his focus on education and human capacity could produce benefits that would outlive the lifespan of the programme itself.
The coalition said the President deserved commendation for supporting a direction that prioritises building human capacity over dependency, adding that educated and skilled Niger Delta youths would be better positioned to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth, peace and regional stability.
THE PORTAL IS AN OPPORTUNITY
Welcoming the opening of the scholarship application portal, the coalition urged eligible Niger Delta sons and daughters to take full advantage of the opportunity and follow the prescribed application procedures.
Eligible applicants can apply through the official PAP scholarship portal:
Apply for the PAP Scholarship: https://scholarship.osapnd.gov.ng/Identity/Account/Register
The group advised applicants to provide accurate information and rely only on official channels throughout the application process in order to avoid misinformation and fraudulent activities.
The coalition further pledged to work constructively with Dr. Otuaro and the PAP administration in promoting peace, education, youth empowerment and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.
It said its support would be directed towards initiatives capable of strengthening the achievements of the Federal Government and advancing the wellbeing of the people of the region.
“We are prepared to work with Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro and every institution genuinely committed to the transformation of the Niger Delta. Our objective is clear: to support programmes that will empower our youths and ultimately help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deliver on his promise of renewed hope and sustainable development.”
The coalition stressed that the Niger Delta should not be defined solely by its history of militancy, oil production or environmental challenges, but increasingly by the quality of its graduates, professionals, entrepreneurs and future leaders.
It therefore called on Niger Delta stakeholders, traditional leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups and other development partners to support initiatives that promote education, peace, skills acquisition and human-capital development.
The coalition concluded that the strongest legacy of the Presidential Amnesty Programme would be measured not only by the number of beneficiaries receiving support today, but also by the number of educated, skilled, productive and responsible Niger Delta citizens it produces for tomorrow.
The statement was endorsed by Utangha Ebikontei Education Coordinator, and Mr. Kegbe Ajaye Clement, Secretary, who said the coalition remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote peace, education and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
Coalition of Niger Delta Peace Advocates and Development Stakeholders.
