Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — To enhance academic achievement and digital proficiency among its scholars, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has started providing laptops to final-year and postgraduate students who are part of their scholarship initiative after an extended six-year period without 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 ceremonies held at Nile and Baze universities, PAP Administrator Dr. Dennis Otuaro stated 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 beneficial the mobile computing devices can be for students' academic achievements, 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 secretary 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 getting these laptops, you will be followed by distributions extended to other beneficiaries at partner institutions."
I recommend and urge you to utilize these resources effectively for your academic advancement. These laptops should enable you to achieve high grades in your projects since you now possess portable devices to support your educational efforts.
Otuaro restated his leadership’s steadfast dedication to narrowing the human capital development deficit in the Niger Delta, all while striving for lasting peace, security, stability, and progress in the area.
He additionally conveyed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his robust backing of the PAP and for supporting various initiatives aimed at education, vocation, and more within the program, all with the aim of 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 scholars hadn’t been provided with laptops over the last six years. He also noted that the organization aims to improve the digital skills of their pupils.
"We find ourselves in an era dominated by technology. People are increasingly engaging in various activities through their smartphones, and laptops enable even greater productivity. This initiative is also geared towards supporting the objectives of the Presidential Amnesty Program, which seeks to offer 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 recognizing the importance of supplying laptops to scholarship recipients to support their studies.
They also expressed their institutions' wish to consistently collaborate with the program to cultivate the necessary personnel for national progress and growth.
Several recipients of the laptop initiative, which included representatives like Eperetun Gboroteiye from Nile University and Pedro Timotubo from Baze University—both being key figures among PAP scholars—as well as Oyinlayefa Ogiriki, Mina Ikiba, Friday Dunu, and Martha Tuwabere, expressed their gratitude towards the PAP leader for providing these personal computers. They emphasized how this support will significantly aid their various programs and studies.
