By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
NINE students sponsored under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have successfully completed their Master’s degree programmes at universities in the United Kingdom.
They are the first cohort to graduate from the offshore postgraduate scholarship scheme deployed to UK institutions under the leadership of the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The graduates completed their studies at Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Dundee, and the University of Law, earning Master’s degrees in Cyber Security, Data Science and Engineering, Law, Construction and Civil Engineering Management, Project Management, and ICT.
In addition, a total of 711 undergraduate and postgraduate PAP scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities across Nigeria this year.
To honour the scholars’ achievements, the PAP hosted a graduation reception in London on Wednesday, 3 December 2025.
Dr Otuaro congratulated the graduates, noting that completing their programmes within the stipulated timeframe demonstrates their diligence and commitment to excellence.
He said they had justified the Federal Government’s major investment in their education and encouraged other beneficiaries to remain focused on their academic goals.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. They took their studies seriously — that is exactly what we expect of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at undergraduate or postgraduate level,” Otuaro stated.
He reaffirmed his strong commitment to widening access to higher education for indigent students from the Niger Delta, with the aim of bridging the region’s human capital development gap.
According to him, 3,800 beneficiaries were deployed to institutions within Nigeria in the 2024/2025 academic year, while the figure rose to 3,900 in the 2025/2026 session, including 200 students awarded foreign scholarships.
In less than two years, Otuaro has facilitated the deployment of 7,700 Nigerian-based scholarship beneficiaries under the PAP scheme, along with 162 Niger Delta students enrolled in targeted postgraduate disciplines at UK universities.
He emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he said has continued to give unprecedented support to the PAP out of genuine concern for the development of the Niger Delta.
“Our actions are fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for the Niger Delta. We will continue to expand opportunities for higher education among students from less privileged backgrounds in the region.
“We are also strengthening the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas to enhance sustainable peace and socio-economic development in the region,” he added.
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