Leaders of the Ijaw Youth Network (IYN) have lauded President Bola Tinubu and Dennis Bruto Otuaro, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) administrator, for their commitment to developing the Niger Delta region.
The youths’ group cited the recent award of scholarships to over 1,700 students from the region as a testament to their positive leadership in the region.
In a statement by Frank Ebikabo, IYN president and Federal Ebiaridor, secretary, the group praised the president’s decision to retain the PAP administrator.
The duo described the president’s decision as a visionary move that has started to yield results in peace sustenance in the region.
They IYN commended Otuaro for steps taken to ensure that the last scholarship exercise was transparent and fair across the region.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated exceptional wisdom not only by retaining the Presidential Amnesty Programme but by appointing Dr. Otuaro, an accomplished administrator whose leadership has brought remarkable progress to the programme,” said Ebikabo and Ebiaridor in the statement.
The IYN leaders emphasised the historic nature of the scholarship scheme, which includes opportunities for overseas master’s degree studies.
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“The scale and transparency of this scholarship scheme, which provides comprehensive support including tuition, accommodation, and living expenses, demonstrates a genuine commitment to addressing the fundamental challenges facing our region,” they stated.
They noted further that, “had previous administrations shown similar sustained dedication to human capital development in the Niger Delta, our region might have avoided the path to militancy.”
The Presidential Amnesty Programme recently awarded local and foreign scholarships to 1700 Niger Delta students, the first time such a large number of students would be chosen as beneficiaries of the programme.
The IYN leadership highlighted several achievements under Otuaro’s administration, including the deployment of four Niger Delta indigenes to South Africa for specialised aviation training and the training of 98 young men and women in maritime skills at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research.
“Dr. Otuaro has shown a deep understanding of the historical grievances that led to unrest in our region and is systematically taking bold and deliberate steps to implement these through well-thought-out initiatives,” the president and secretary noted.
However, they also called for increased funding for the programme. “While we commend these achievements, we respectfully appeal to President Tinubu to consider increasing the budgetary allocation to the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Additional funding would enable the PAP to expand its reach and create an even more lasting impact in the Niger Delta region.”
The IYN leaders reaffirmed their support for Tinubu’s administration and Otuaro’s leadership.
They expressed their commitment to partnering with the federal government in fostering sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.
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