Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — To enhance academic achievement and digital proficiency among their scholars, the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, has initiated the distribution of laptops to final-year and postgraduate students who are part of their scholarship program after a six-year anticipation for this form of assistance.

During two distinct events organized at Nile University and Baze University in Abuja, 64 students—including 60 senior undergraduate students, three graduate students, and one doctoral candidate—were presented with individual laptops as part of the initial stage of the laptop distribution program.

At the presentation events held at Nile and Baze universities, PAP Administrator Dr. Dennis Otuaro commented that this act fulfilled his commitment to the scholarship recipients, which he had made during his visit to collaborating institutions in 2024.

He mentioned that the office acknowledged how valuable the mobile computing devices are for the students' academic achievement, particularly when they are getting ready to work on their end-of-year projects, theses, and dissertations.

Otuaro, who was present at the events through representatives including Ebikpolade Zorab, the interim administrator for PAP, and Ebimene Jackson, the personal assistant to the leader of PAP, encouraged the students to utilize the laptops effectively and fulfill the intent behind this act of generosity.

Speaking to the students, he mentioned, "As the inaugural group of PAP scholarship recipients receiving these laptops, you hold a special place. We plan to expand this distribution to additional beneficiaries at other partner institutions as well."

I recommend and urge you to utilize them effectively for advancing your academics. These laptops should enable you to achieve outstanding grades instead of lower marks since you now possess mobile devices to support your educational efforts.

Otuaro reaffirmed his leadership’s steadfast dedication to bridging the human capital development deficit in the Niger Delta. Simultaneously, they aim to maintain sustainable peace, security, stability, and progress within the area.

He additionally conveyed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his robust backing of the PAP and for endorsing the program’s educational, vocational, and various other initiatives aimed at fulfilling its mission in the Niger Delta as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Previously, Dr. Charles Ariye, who leads education at PAP, mentioned that scholarship recipients hadn't been provided with laptops over the last six years. He also noted that the organization aims to boost the digital skills of their students.

"We find ourselves in an era dominated by technology. With smartphones, we accomplish numerous tasks, and laptops enable us to achieve even more. This initiative aims to support the goals of the Presidential Amnesty Program by offering high-quality university education," he stated.

During courtesy calls made to him by representatives from PAP officials, the registrar of Nile University, David Olowola, along with his peer at Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, praised the administrator for considering it important to supply laptops to the scholarship recipients, thereby aiding their academic pursuits.

They expressed their institutions' wish to consistently collaborate with the program to cultivate the necessary personnel for national progress and growth.

Several recipients of the laptops, such as the representatives of PAP scholars at the two institutions—Eperetun Gboroteiye from Nile University and Pedro Timotubo from Baze University—as well as Oyinlayefa Ogiriki, Mina Ikiba, Friday Dunu, and Martha Tuwabere, expressed gratitude to the leader of PAP for providing these devices. They noted that this assistance would significantly aid their academic endeavors.