By Mario Deepromoter

A student on the scholarship scheme of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Kemien Egbekun, has graduated with a CGPA of 4.77 (first class degree) in Law at the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU), Agbara-Otor, Delta State.

Two other students sponsored by the PAP, Oladapo Damilola and Toikumo Prosper, also made a second-class upper-division grade in Law at the same MCIU. They all participated in the university’s 6th convocation ceremony on September 6, 2024.

No fewer than 60 students sponsored by the PAP made first class in different competitive disciplines between 2016 and 2023 at various partnering universities as confirmed by the Head of Education, Dr Charles Ariye.

The disciplines include electrical/electronics engineering, computer science, civil engineering, accounting, law, petroleum engineering, physics, international relations, chemistry, biochemistry, political science, medical laboratory science, microbiology, industrial chemistry, among others.

Though the scorecard for 2024 is being awaited from the various institutions, Egbekun and her colleagues have by their laudable academic achievements, added to the constantly growing number of the PAP scholarship scheme beneficiaries who had scored similar excellent grades in various courses of study at partnering institutions.

Meanwhile, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has expressed delight over the sterling academic performances of students sponsored by the Programme.

He spoke on the heels of the meritorious academic feats of the Arogbo-Ijaw-born Egbekun and others, according to a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, on Wednesday.

Otuaro said his administration was encouraged by the quality of academic grades achieved by the PAP scholarship students, which had become a part of the success stories of the programme in the advancement of human capital development in the Niger Delta.

He stressed that their creditable academic performances were a testament to the well-intentioned educational objectives of the scholarship scheme and the mandate of the PAP for the region.

Otuaro commended the PAP graduates for recording first-class and second-class upper-division grades in their disciplines, noting that they had made the Federal Government, the PAP Office, their communities and the region proud.

He challenged current PAP scholarship students in the various partnering institutions to be spurred on by the admirable grades made by their predecessors to maintain the commendable trajectory.

The PAP boss attributed the worthy academic feats of PAP scholarship graduates to President Bola Tinubu’s strong support for the Office.

He stressed that it conforms with his Renewed Hope Agenda of sustainable, peace, stability and development in the region.

He therefore thanked the president for his fatherly encouragement to the Office and his willingness to do more due to his genuine love for the people of the Niger Delta.

Otuaro said his administration was taking steps to ensure that more scholarship opportunities were created for deserving students.

He stated, “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.

“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.”