The Federal Government has expanded its amnesty scholarship programme, benefiting 3,900 local students and 200 scholars studying abroad, in a move aimed at deepening educational opportunities for youths and communities in the Niger Delta.
Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), disclosed this during an interactive session with 2025/2026 foreign scholarship beneficiaries in London on Saturday. He explained that the expansion was designed to ensure that more indigent students from the region gain access to formal education through the initiative.
The PAP, established in 2009 for the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration of Niger Delta militants, created its education unit in 2011 to support formal learning among delegates. The recent increase in beneficiaries marks a continuation of that mission.
“The scholarship programme now covers 3,900 in-country students, up from 3,800 last year, alongside 200 new foreign scholarship deployments,” Otuaro said. “We want the scholarship programme to impact more students and communities in the Niger Delta. That’s why we have expanded it and increased formal education opportunities.”
He attributed the progress to the strong backing of the Presidency and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), led by Nuhu Ribadu. “I am greatly encouraged by the president and the national security adviser,” he added.
The London engagement offered an opportunity for the PAP students to share concerns about their welfare and academic challenges. Otuaro urged the beneficiaries to demonstrate diligence and integrity, calling on them to justify the federal government’s investment through academic excellence and responsible conduct.
“The government is investing heavily in you, and you have the obligation to justify the investment,” he said. “Be agents of change and avoid acts of mischief while in the UK.”
He also reminded the students that the education they receive will serve as a foundation for their future. “The knowledge you are receiving in your institutions today is to enable you to plan for yourself and prepare for the future. Whatever knowledge you gain cannot be taken from you,” Otuaro said.
At Jocomms, we note that this expansion reflects a renewed commitment to human capital development in the Niger Delta — a critical step toward sustaining peace and progress through education.
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