The administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has charged students under the amnesty scholarship scheme to intensify efforts to sustain their record of academic excellence in universities.
Otuaro spoke during his visit to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) scholarship students at the Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Western Delta University, Oghara, and Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor respectively, all in Delta State on Thursday.
The administrator who earlier visited PAP scholarship students at the Igbinedion University, Okada and Benson Idahosa University, Benin, described the visits as part of his tour of partnering institutions to interact with the managements and students.
Otuaro stressed that the positive reports would only encourage the government to do more to invest in human capacity development.
The PAP boss according to a statement by his special assistant on media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, said his movement was in line with the policy of the President Tinubu administration to channel human resources in the Niger Delta to productive activities as part of sustained efforts to promote peace for economic growth in the area.
Otuaro, who was briefed differently by the vice-chancellors of the three institutions, promised that the PAP would give the necessary support to brilliant and serious-minded students under the scheme who might want to do master’s degrees if they secure admission.
He said; “Formal education is a critical aspect of this programme. We have produced many students who have first class, second class upper while others made distinctions at post graduate level.
“These excellent grades are a very encouraging way of bridging the human capacity development gap in the Niger Delta. I hold the view strongly that formal education would offer self-reliance and higher chances of success to 80 percent of beneficiaries.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme is for the poor. When you make a great grade, we will make efforts to support your post-graduate studies. We are committed to their success in life and will offer necessary support to those who make good grades to get employment opportunities.
“We are happy and indeed the President would be encouraged by the record of performance of students of the various partnering institutions.
“I advise the students to improve on their inter-personal relationships. They should adhere to the rules and regulations of the institutions.
“It is the belief of the president that impact of government should be felt by the people not only during elections, and that is why he has taken these steps.”
The story of academic success ran through all the three universities where some of the students were retained as reward for sterling academic performance.
In his remarks, vice-chancellor of Western Delta University, Prof Augustine Ikelegbe, commended President Tinubu for appointing Otuaro, a stakeholder with tested passion for the development of the region, to lead the PAP.
Ikelegbe said the institution runs an innovative mentorship programme and had trained several lecturers with certification to take care of students to prevent them from straying.
He commended the amnesty students for putting up a superlative performance in character and academics saying, “One of the best students had several prizes. He topped three years of graduating sets and won several prizes. This shows that your students are very good. One other was retained as a graduate assistant in economics. We retain our best. She is on leave of absence in the UK.”