Ijaw Group Hails Otuaro Over Deployment of 150 Niger Delta Scholars To UK Varsities

The Ijaw Youth Network (IYN) has commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, for deploying 150 Niger Delta youths to universities across the United Kingdom for postgraduate studies.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the group described the deployment as a demonstration of visionary and purposeful leadership.

The IYN also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast support for the PAP, saying the President’s backing remained the driving force behind what it described as the programme’s unprecedented achievements under the current administration.

According to the group, the latest batch of 150 beneficiaries participated in a pre-departure briefing led by Otuaro at the PAP headquarters in Abuja.

The deployment is part of the programme’s 2026 offshore scholarship scheme and brings the total number of postgraduate scholars sent abroad this year to 243.

The figure follows the earlier deployment of 93 students in January and May.

The beneficiaries are expected to pursue specialised master’s degree programmes in various fields, including software engineering, cybersecurity, global public health, oil and gas engineering, law, fintech analytics, construction engineering management, forensic audit and data science analytics.

The IYN also noted that across Nigeria, the PAP office had granted scholarships to 8,700 students, while an additional 4,300 had been approved for the 2026/2027 academic calendar.

This, according to the group, brings the total number of postgraduate students covered by the scholarship initiative to 13,000.

“Dr Otuaro has shown what purposeful leadership can achieve.

“These young men and women will return as engineers, lawyers, analysts, health experts and technology professionals, ready to contribute to the growth and development of the Niger Delta and the nation,” the group said.

The organisation described the scholarship scheme as a critical intervention aimed at bridging the human capital development deficit in the Niger Delta, sustaining peace and stability in the region and equipping young people with globally competitive skills.

“As key observers in the Niger Delta, we have noted the tremendous support this programme enjoys from the Federal Government under President Tinubu and ably supervised by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,” the statement added.

The IYN further disclosed that the scholars received brand-new laptops during their orientation to support their academic work while studying abroad.

The group, however, called on the people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate what it described as President Tinubu’s commitment to the region with electoral support for him in the 2027 general elections.

“The President has stood firmly with the Niger Delta and with the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and he has stood by the Administrator as he delivers these wonderful results.

“It is only proper that the people of the region repay this steadfastness with their support at the polls in 2027. We pledge to mobilise for him,” the IYN said.

The organisation described sustained investment in education and skills development under the PAP as a critical pathway to achieving lasting peace and economic empowerment in the oil-producing region.

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