Otuaro Reaffirms Commitment to Expanding PAP Scholarship Scheme for Niger Delta Students
By Paul Ebi
London — The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has reiterated his unwavering commitment to ensuring that more indigent students and communities in the Niger Delta benefit from the PAP scholarship scheme.
Dr. Otuaro made this known during an interactive session held on Saturday in London with beneficiaries of the PAP scholarship initiative currently pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in universities across the United Kingdom.
The meeting, convened at the instance of the PAP boss, provided a platform for open engagement between the Office and the scholarship students to discuss welfare-related issues and other challenges with a view to finding lasting solutions.
Explaining what informed his decision to expand the scheme, Otuaro said the move was aimed at increasing formal education opportunities for poor students in the region and building a robust manpower base for the Niger Delta.
According to him, while in-country scholarship deployment stood at 3,800 for the 2024/2025 academic year, the number rose to 3,900 in the 2025/2026 session, in addition to about 200 foreign scholarships.
He attributed the increase to the “massive support” of President Bola Tinubu and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), describing both as strong backers of the PAP’s education and empowerment initiatives.
> “We want the scholarship programme to impact more students and communities in the Niger Delta. That’s why we have expanded it and increased formal education opportunities,” Otuaro stated.
The PAP Administrator lauded President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for their encouragement and commitment to the success of the Programme, noting that their support aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
> “Mr President and the NSA are very impressed with what we are doing. On your behalf, I would like to once again thank His Excellency and the NSA for giving you this life-changing opportunity,” he added.
Otuaro urged the students to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education by maintaining academic excellence and exhibiting responsible conduct while studying abroad.
> “The knowledge you are receiving today is to enable you prepare for the future. Government is investing heavily in you, and you have the obligation to justify that investment. Be agents of change and avoid acts of mischief while in the U.K.,” he advised.
He further emphasized that the scholarship initiative was designed not only to empower individual beneficiaries but also to transform their families and communities through education and human capital development.
The session concluded with a renewed sense of purpose among the students, who expressed appreciation to the PAP and the Federal Government for their continued support.
