About 60 students on Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) scholarship have made first class grades in different competitive disciplines between 2016 and 2023 at various partnering universities.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the PAP Head of Education, Dr Charles Ariye.
The disciplines include Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Acccounting, Law, Petroleum Engineering, Physics, International Relations, Biochemistry among others.
Ariye expressed delight that another student, Kemien Egbekun, performed a feat with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.77 (first class) in Law at the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State.
At the same school, two other students – Oladapo Damilola and Toikumo Prosper – also obtained a second-class upper-division grade in Law.
The trio participated in the university’s 6th convocation ceremony on September 6, 2024.
Ariye explained that though the scorecard for 2024 was being awaited from the various institutions, Egbekun and her colleagues have, by their academic achievements, added to the growing number of PAP scholarship beneficiaries who scored similar excellent grades in various courses at partnering institutions.
The Administrator of the PAP, Dr Dennis Otuaro, lauded the sterling performances by the graduands.
He added that the academic feats performed by the students was not only a huge source of encouragement to his administration but had also become a part of the success stories of the programme in the advancement of human capital development in the Niger Delta.
Otuaro attributed the feats to the strong support they keep receiving from President Bola Tinubu.
He stressed that it conformed with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda of sustainable peace, stability and development in the region.
“We are elated by the fantastic academic performances of the Presidential Amnesty Programme scholarship scheme students. Achieving such impressive grades as first-class and second-class upper division is no mean academic feat,” Otuaro said.
“These achievements reinforce the fact that the PAP is on the right track implementing its mandate. We are delighted and encouraged by this fact, and are taking appropriate steps to deepen efforts at achieving more in educational and vocational initiatives.
“We must thank President Bola Tinubu for his strong support for the programme and the undying love he has for the people of the Niger Delta through his Renewed Hope Agenda. He is committed to sustainable peace, stability and development in the region. He needs to be appreciated and encouraged also,” he stressed.
