On Friday, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu encouraged students awarded scholarships under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to be exemplary scholars at their respective universities.
Addressing the 1,700 scholarship beneficiaries for the 2024/2025 academic session during their orientation in Warri, Delta State, Ribadu, represented by his Special Assistant on Niger Delta, Mr. Goodluck Ebelo, urged the students to fully leverage their sponsorship for higher education and contribute to national growth upon graduation.
He said, “With this scholarship given to you, you have a huge opportunity to excel in your studies. Please, be shining lights in your different institutions of study and the expectation is that you will be very good students of this country.”
Dr. Dennis Otuaro, PAP Administrator, emphasized that the scholarship scheme is a key strategy for enhancing human capital development in the Niger Delta. He highlighted the importance of formal education as a critical intervention for creating opportunities, especially for underprivileged youth from impacted communities in the region.
He said, “By sponsoring you for undergraduate studies, the PAP has taken a bold step to strategically deepen the Niger Delta formal education trajectory of bridging the human capital development gap to foster the region’s social-economic status. In fact, this is my desire and vision for our people.
“The selection process for the award of scholarship to beneficiaries for the 2024/2025 academic session was open, transparent and thorough and I take responsibility for the process. We have, as a result, deployed about 1,700 students for this academic session. My leadership would always maintain high standards and work hard to ensure everyone was fairly treated in the selection process.”
He urged the beneficiaries to be peace ambassadors, avoid cultism and social vices, and respect the laws of their institutions to ensure they graduate with integrity and academic excellence. Otuaro also expressed President Bola Tinubu’s satisfaction with the academic achievements of PAP students, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The PAP Administrator also expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu and the NSA for their support in advancing peace, human capital development, and economic growth in the region through the renewed hope agenda.
Dr. Charles Ariye, Head of Formal Education at PAP, reminded the students that the scholarship was not only a financial award but a testament to their commitment to personal growth and success. He encouraged them to learn from their academic mentors and contribute positively to their academic communities.
In separate goodwill messages, HRM King S. P. Luke, Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, and Pastor Reuben Wilson, Founder of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, advised the students to avoid shortcuts to academic success.
Beneficiaries such as Blessing Appollos (Bayelsa State, Igbinedion University), Fyneman John-Pere (Edo State, Edwin Clark University), and Ezekiel Appeal (Delta State, Novena University) expressed their gratitude to the PAP Administrator, acknowledging that the scholarship would significantly aid their academic pursuits.
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