Another batch of 31 offshore postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme on Friday departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom to begin studies at various universities.
The scholars, who departed from Abuja and arrived in London, were among the 150 beneficiaries who participated in a pre-departure briefing organised in August following their deployment by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro.
They were preceded by a batch of 54 beneficiaries who left the country last week.
The beneficiaries will pursue postgraduate programmes in forensic audit, construction engineering management, data science analytics, law, software engineering, oil and gas engineering, cybersecurity, global public health and fintech analytics, among others.
Otuaro, who has deployed a total of 243 overseas postgraduate scholarships this year, charged the scholars to be deliberate about academic excellence and conduct themselves responsibly.
He urged them to appreciate the President Bola Tinubu administration’s support by excelling academically and justifying the government’s investment in their education.
The PAP administrator expressed optimism that the Niger Delta and Nigeria would benefit from the investment in the education of youths in the region.
He said education was a crucial tool for driving sustainable peace and stability, development and socio-economic growth in the region and the country.
“The huge benefits of the investment in the Niger Delta youths’ education will be felt in the years to come.
“Apart from closing the human capital development gap, we are building a community of intellectuals that will be the light of our region in the interest of peace, stability and development of communities in the country,” Otuaro said.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the PAP and its initiatives, saying the administration had demonstrated commitment to the development of the Niger Delta and the education of its youths.
The PAP boss also commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his support and contributions to the programme.
Otuaro thanked PAP stakeholders for their cooperation and encouragement, and reiterated his commitment to sustainable peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta.