At Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, a total of twenty-six scholarship students from the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, have successfully attained first-class honors.
During a visit to the institution on Wednesday, the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, disclosed this information to the PAP Administrator, Chief Dennis Otuaro.
As part of his interactions with the universities’ managements and students benefiting from the PAP scholarship, Otuaro visited both Igbinedion University and Benson Idahosa University in Benin, Edo State.
Expressing his dedication to upholding peace, security, and development in the Niger Delta through the Presidential Amnesty Programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision, Otuaro reaffirmed his commitment to effectively implementing the Amnesty Programme to instill confidence in the Niger Delta region and garner support for the Federal Government.
Otuaro emphasized the pivotal role of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in fostering lasting peace in the Niger Delta, aligning with President Tinubu’s vision of sustaining peace in the region. He stressed the importance of working diligently to strengthen the trust placed in them.
Recognizing Igbinedion University as the pioneering tertiary institution to accept PAP scholarship students, Otuaro commended their graduates for being integral to the success of the Amnesty Programme.
Touching upon the challenges faced by PAP scholarship students during interactions, Otuaro assured them of the Programme’s commitment to addressing their concerns effectively and urged them to prioritize their studies and steer clear of negative influences to excel academically.
In his remarks, the VC of Igbinedion University, Ezemoye, highlighted that beyond the twenty-six first-class graduates, several other PAP scholarship students excelled in professional courses such as medicine, nursing, and medical laboratory sciences.
Ezemoye commended the PAP for fulfilling its responsibilities towards scholarship students, positioning them for success and pledged enhanced collaboration to offer opportunities in competitive fields like medicine, nursing, pharmacy, law, and others, particularly following an increase in admission quota.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme was initiated by the Federal Government to empower former agitators in the Niger Delta to become entrepreneurs or skilled workers contributing positively to the regional and national economy through partnerships with relevant institutions and state governments.
The Programme’s mission centers on reinstating its original purpose of empowering ex-agitators in the Niger Delta while also expanding services to the region where they are based.
Its mandate includes equipping these individuals with entrepreneurship skills to transform them into change agents who shift the narrative of dependency on stipends, transforming them into self-sufficient employers and contributors to the economic growth of the Niger Delta.
Additionally, the Programme is tasked with collaborating with government agencies to ensure the development and security of the Niger Delta region in accordance with the broader Amnesty Package.