Ijaw group applauds Otuaro for expanding scholarship opportunities in Niger Delta

The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has praised the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, for his steadfast dedication to advancing peace and human capital development across the Niger Delta.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the group commended the PAP for awarding over 3,000 scholarships to students from the region.

The IYN noted that Otuaro has remained consistent with his pledge to close the educational and skill development gap in the Niger Delta. The group also applauded him for facilitating the recent deployment of 161 beneficiaries from affected communities to universities in the United Kingdom for targeted academic programmes.

They encouraged the PAP administrator to stay focused on his mission and disregard attempts by “mischief makers” to distract him.

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According to the statement, Otuaro’s deliberate push to expand educational access in the Niger Delta stands out as one of the surest paths to achieving lasting peace and progress in the oil-rich region.
Ebikabo and Ebiaridor expressed confidence that Otuaro’s visionary investment in education will yield long-term benefits for both the Niger Delta and the entire nation.

The youth leaders also extended appreciation to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his strategic oversight of the Presidential Amnesty Office and his contributions toward sustaining peace in the region.

They further urged Niger Delta youths to prioritize the collective interest of the region in the 2027 elections, aligning with Otuaro’s call to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Recalling Otuaro’s previous strides in scholarship awards and vocational training, the group acknowledged the president’s continued backing of the PAP’s initiatives.

“We have noted with keen interest the recent deployment of a huge number of Niger Delta indigenes for scholarship programmes within and outside the country.

“The record we have shows that over 3000 young people are benefiting from these unprecedented efforts of the PAP under Otuaro’s leadership within the country and 161 in the UK universities for the 2025/2026 academic year.

“We at the IYN commend the PAP boss for his laudable efforts. We know his antecedents, and we are not surprised that he has made this level of unprecedented impact within a short time.

“We urge him to remain focused on the job and ignore detractors spreading falsehood about the programme and its leaders.

“We also call on our colleagues in the Niger Delta to give the requisite support to Otuaro and the Tinubu administration, which has given priority to issues affecting our people,” the statement added.