By Joy Omagha Idam, Abuja
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has bid farewell to 150 Niger Delta beneficiaries selected for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, as the programme reaffirmed its commitment to investing in education and human capital development across the region.
The beneficiaries were hosted at the PAP Corporate Headquarters on Thursday, August 20, 2026, during a Pre-Departure Orientation Programme organised to prepare them for their academic journey in the UK.
The group comprises 50 First Class graduates and 100 graduates with Second Class Upper (2:1) degrees, selected for postgraduate programmes in various fields of study.
The orientation provided the beneficiaries with information on international travel protocols, academic expectations, institutional regulations and other requirements they are expected to observe throughout their studies.
Addressing the scholars, the Administrator of PAP, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaru, charged them to conduct themselves responsibly and remain worthy ambassadors of the Niger Delta, PAP and Nigeria.
“You are the light of the Niger Delta. This is a serious investment under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Otuaru told the beneficiaries.
He urged them to make the most of the opportunity and return to Nigeria after their studies to contribute their knowledge and skills to the development of their communities and the country.
According to the PAP Administrator, the August departure represents the third batch of scholarship beneficiaries leaving Nigeria this year, following earlier departures in February and May.
Otuaru also disclosed that approximately 8,700 students are currently studying in universities across Nigeria under the PAP scholarship scheme, with beneficiaries reportedly recording strong academic performances.
PANDEF Commends PAP Scholarship Expansion
The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Dr Godknows Boladei Igali, OON, commended the PAP Administrator for what he described as efforts to reposition the programme and expand its educational interventions.
Igali expressed particular appreciation for the expansion of the scholarship scheme to include postgraduate, Master’s and PhD programmes, alongside undergraduate opportunities in Nigerian universities.
He also commended the gender balance among the latest beneficiaries, describing Nigerian youths as some of the brightest minds globally.
The PANDEF chairman urged the scholars to distinguish themselves academically, respect the laws of the United Kingdom and their host institutions, and return home after their studies to contribute to national development.
“Nigerian children are the brightest and best brains all over the world. Be worthy ambassadors and be the best. Above all, return home and give back to your fatherland,” he said.
Igali further encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focused on academic excellence, noting that companies and organisations would be looking for outstanding graduates with relevant knowledge and skills.
He also paid tribute to Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs, recognising her advocacy and contributions to the struggle that preceded the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Ann-Kio Briggs: Niger Delta Youths Were Agitators, Not Militants
Speaking at the event, veteran Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs challenged what she described as a misconception about the youths who participated in the Niger Delta struggle.
Briggs argued that the youths should not simply be described as “militants”, insisting that they were agitators seeking greater participation in decisions concerning the region’s oil resources and improved benefits for their communities.
She said the agitation was driven by demands for a stronger voice in the management of resources extracted from the Niger Delta and greater development for oil-producing communities.
According to Briggs, the struggle eventually contributed to the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
IYC Seeks Increased PAP Funding
The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr Doubra Okotete, called on the Federal Government to increase funding for the Presidential Amnesty Programme to enable it to reach more beneficiaries and expand its interventions across the Niger Delta.
Okotete argued that increased funding was necessary, particularly given the continued importance of oil revenues to Nigeria’s economy.
He urged the Federal Government to sustain and strengthen its investment in human capital development through PAP, saying greater funding would enable more young people from the Niger Delta to benefit from its education and empowerment programmes.
PAP Urges Scholars to Protect Programme’s Future
Also speaking, the Technical Assistant to the PAP Administrator, Dr Edgar Daniel Biu, outlined the terms and conditions of the scholarship, including the rules and responsibilities the beneficiaries are expected to observe during their studies.
Biu urged the scholars to remain disciplined, focused and conscious of the reputation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme wherever they find themselves.
He stressed that the academic performance and conduct of the beneficiaries could influence the future expansion of the scholarship scheme.
“If you do well, it will spur President Tinubu to increase the budget for the programme,” he said.
Biu also commended Otuaru and the PAP management team for what he described as efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness within the programme.
He urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by acquiring knowledge, skills and professional experience that could be deployed to support the development of their communities and Nigeria upon their return.
The event ended with a charge to the 150 scholars to excel in their respective fields, uphold the reputation of Nigeria and the Niger Delta, and return home prepared to contribute meaningfully to national development.
