The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to investing in the education of Niger Delta youths through the programme’s scholarship scheme to bridge the region’s human capital development gap.
Dr. Otuaro made the statement on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), United Kingdom, led by Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Nana Adom, during a courtesy visit to the PAP headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation also included Senior Admissions Manager, Eve Flower, and Country Manager for Nigeria, Linda Ayodele. ARU, one of the programme’s partner universities in the UK, currently has 69 PAP alumni, while 28 scholarship beneficiaries are pursuing various academic programmes at the institution.
The PAP Administrator disclosed that the programme recently deployed 36 students to ARU, with two expected to graduate in September 2026, four in January 2027, and 18 in May 2027. He said the Tinubu administration remains committed to expanding educational opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, President Tinubu views education as a critical tool for empowering young people in the Niger Delta and addressing the region’s long-standing development challenges. He added that the Federal Government’s investment in education would produce lasting benefits for both the region and the nation.
Dr. Otuaro revealed that PAP scholarship beneficiaries have continued to excel academically, with the programme recently producing more than 50 first-class graduates and 40 second-class upper division graduates. He noted that over 9,000 students have benefited from in-country scholarships, while 273 have been sponsored to study at universities in the United Kingdom.
He commended Anglia Ruskin University for its sustained partnership with the Presidential Amnesty Programme, describing the collaboration as productive and beneficial to the educational advancement of Niger Delta youths.
Speaking on behalf of the university, Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Nana Adom, said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing partnership between ARU and the Presidential Amnesty Programme. He praised the academic performance of PAP-sponsored students, noting that feedback from the university’s faculties had been overwhelmingly positive.