Young Ijaw leaders praise Tinubu and Ribadu for broadening the PAP scholarship program

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…Urge Otuaro to Ignore Critics, Sustain Reforms

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By John Alechenu, Abuja

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The Ijaw Youth Network (IYN) has commended President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for what it described as the unprecedented expansion of scholarship and training programmes under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

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The group also urged the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, to remain focused and disregard what it termed distractions from critics of the programme.

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In a statement signed by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the group said Otuaro’s leadership had widened access to education, skills acquisition and vocational training for Niger Delta youths and delegates.

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The IYN said more than 9,000 Niger Deltans had received scholarships to study in Nigerian universities, while 273 others were currently benefiting from overseas scholarship programmes since Otuaro assumed office in March 2024.

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According to the group, the programme has produced over 50 first-class graduates and 40 second-class upper graduates in the last two academic sessions.

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It also highlighted other interventions, including the graduation of four pilot cadets and two instrument rating trainees in South Africa, 40 aviation cadets in Lagos and 98 maritime cadets in Delta State.

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The group further noted that the training of 360 delegates from the First, Second and Third Phases of the programme, alongside other stakeholders, in alternative dispute resolution and mediation had strengthened peace-building efforts in the Niger Delta.

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“These achievements reflect Dr Otuaro’s commitment to human capital development, socio-economic advancement, and peace and stability in the Niger Delta,” Ebikabo and Ebiaridor said.

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The IYN said communities in the region were beginning to feel the impact of the programme under Otuaro’s leadership despite criticisms from some quarters.

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“It has never been this good for delegates because he played an active role in the struggle. We urge him to remain focused on the mandate of the programme. The future of the Niger Delta is getting brighter,” the group said.

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The youth organisation also commended the PAP administration for ensuring prompt and transparent payment of delegates’ monthly stipends.

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It expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Office of the National Security Adviser for their support towards repositioning the programme.

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“Without the strong backing of the President and the NSA, the reforms that have repositioned the programme for better service delivery would not have been possible,” the statement added.

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The IYN maintained that Otuaro had made significant progress in advancing the President’s vision for the Niger Delta and should not be distracted from delivering on the programme’s mandate.

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