The Presidential Amnesty Programme has announced that four of its offshore scholarship beneficiaries graduated with distinction from universities in the United Kingdom, as 16 scholars in total completed postgraduate degrees in a result the agency described as evidence of the programme's commitment to human capital development in the Niger Delta.

The four distinction graduates, confirmed in a statement signed by Special Assistant to the PAP Administrator, Igoniko Oduma, are Nina Orubebe in Financial Management, Tonbra Tonlagha in International Hospitality and Tourism, Kemien Egbekun in Law, and Simon Douye in Construction Engineering Management.

The 16 graduates completed programmes across disciplines including software engineering, oil and gas, data science and engineering, financial management, law, construction engineering management and global public health. The beneficiaries studied at institutions including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Dundee, Aston University, Coventry University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Bedfordshire, the University of South Wales and Northumbria University.

PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, congratulated the scholars for completing their studies on schedule, stating that their accomplishments would strengthen the pool of skilled professionals needed for Niger Delta development.

"Our decision to expand the scholarship scheme is anchored on the massive support and strong desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bridge the region's human capital development gap under the Renewed Hope Agenda," Otuaro stated.

He added: "This new set of 16 successful overseas postgraduate students sponsored by the PAP has reinforced the Federal Government's investment in the Niger Delta youths' education to enhance sustainable peace and socio economic advancement in the region."

Otuaro dismissed criticism of the expanded scholarship initiative, warning that opposition from detractors would not derail the programme.

"We will not succumb to the frivolous activities of mischief makers and detractors because many of them are not happy that we have increased educational scholarship chances for poor Niger Deltans based on the mandate of the President," he said.

The PAP disclosed that the programme has produced 111 master's and doctoral degree holders since Otuaro assumed office in March 2024, comprising 57 graduates from foreign universities and 54 from Nigerian institutions. The administration has also awarded approximately 9,000 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships in Nigerian tertiary institutions alongside 247 scholarships for higher degree studies at overseas universities.