Education, Not Militancy: Otuaro Says Tinubu Is Building a New Generation of Niger Delta Leaders
By Passman Akpos
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the Niger Delta through sustained investment in education, describing the scholarship programme as a key strategy for closing the region’s human capital development gap.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Anglia Ruskin University, Dr. Otuaro said the Federal Government remains determined to equip young people in the Niger Delta with the knowledge and skills needed to drive national development.
The university delegation was led by Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Nana Adom, alongside Senior Admissions Manager Eve Flower and Nigeria Country Manager Linda Ayodele.
According to Dr. Otuaro, President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places education at the heart of sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwaveringly committed to supporting the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and he believes strongly that education is one of the best things for our youths in the Niger Delta. This is because he is concerned about bridging the human capital development gap in the region,” Otuaro stated.
He disclosed that Anglia Ruskin University currently has 69 PAP alumni, while 28 scholarship beneficiaries are studying various programmes at the institution. Under his administration, 36 students have been deployed to the university, with two expected to graduate in September 2026, four in January 2027, and 18 in May 2027.
Highlighting the programme’s achievements, Dr. Otuaro revealed that PAP scholarship beneficiaries have continued to excel academically, with the scheme recently producing more than 50 first-class graduates and 40 second-class upper division graduates.
He added that the programme has sponsored approximately 9,000 students in Nigerian institutions and 273 students in universities across the United Kingdom, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
Dr. Otuaro commended the long-standing partnership between the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Anglia Ruskin University, expressing appreciation for the institution’s continued support in training Niger Delta youths.
Speaking on behalf of the university, Dr. Nana Adom said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between ARU and the Presidential Amnesty Programme. He praised the outstanding academic performance of PAP-sponsored students, noting that feedback from faculty members had been overwhelmingly positive.
The meeting underscores the Federal Government’s continued emphasis on education as a tool for peacebuilding, empowerment, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta, with officials expressing confidence that beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme will contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
