Foreign students under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) scholarship scheme have been enjoined to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and justify the huge investment spent by the federal government on their education.
The administrator of the PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, urged the scholarship students currently studying in the United Kingdom to excel in their academic pursuits by remaining focused and avoiding distractions.
This was contained in a statement issued by his special assistant on media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma.
Otuaro, during a meeting with the students, highlighted the success of the scholarship scheme, which has produced numerous graduates with first-class and second-class upper degrees in competitive fields such as sciences and clinical sciences.
He encouraged the students to continue the tradition of excellence, noting that many PAP graduates are thriving in their careers and making significant contributions to national growth and development.
According to him, his administration was putting measures in place to make the scholarship scheme more robust to bridge the human capacity gap in the Niger Delta and reassured them that their welfare remains a top priority for him.
Otuaro conveyed the excitement of President Bola Tinubu on the success stories and the sterling academic performances of the programme’s scholarship students at home and abroad.
The PAP boss asserted that he is working alongside his management team to fulfill the vision of Tinubu for the peace, security, stability, and socio-economic development of the Niger Delta, as contained in his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said: “As PAP scholarship students abroad, it is very important that you study hard and aim to make the best grades in your academics. That is what you have been sent here to do, and that is what you are here to do and nothing else.
“We will always prioritize your scholarship and welfare because this is one avenue through which we can achieve our goal of closing the existing gap in the human capital development of our region.
“Let me take this opportunity to inform you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very happy with the fact that PAP scholarship students are making first-class and second-class upper divisions in various courses of study, particularly in the sciences, engineering, and clinical sciences.
“Therefore, the Niger Delta is properly captured in Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is why he is very supportive of the Office in terms of the educational and vocational programmes we carry out to deepen the reintegration phase of the programme for the benefit of our people.
“We are immensely grateful to Mr President, and that is why I urge you all to take your studies seriously and don’t disappoint the Federal Government, the PAP Office, and the Niger Delta region where you come from.”
In their separate remarks, some of the students expressed gratitude to Otuaro for visiting them and prioritising their welfare needs, saying his visit to them was a clear indication of the genuine concern of the government in their academic pursuit.
