By Joy Omagha Idam, Abuja
The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, and members of the 10th National Executive Council have commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, for his accountable stewardship and the positive impact of the programme on youths of the Niger Delta.
The IYC leadership made the commendation when Dr. Okotete led members of the National Executive Council on a courtesy visit to Dr. Otuaro at the PAP office.
The visit was aimed at reviewing the implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in line with the vision of the Federal Government when the initiative was established in 2009 under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Okotete said the IYC recognised the significant contributions of PAP to the education, empowerment and skills development of Niger Delta youths, particularly Ijaw youths.
He said, “The Presidential Amnesty Programme has provided thousands of young people with opportunities for quality education and training both locally and internationally. Many others have also benefited from formal and informal training in various skills and crafts.”
According to him, many PAP beneficiaries also depend on the monthly stipends provided by the programme to meet their basic needs.
The IYC President, however, said the council remained concerned about some challenges confronting the programme, stressing that many Ijaw youths were still seeking opportunities within the mandate of PAP.
He said, “We are not oblivious to the shortcomings of the programme. Millions of Ijaw youths are still seeking opportunities within the mandate of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and we believe there is a need for greater funding and improved budgetary provisions to enable the programme reach more Niger Delta youths.”
Dr. Okotete also commended Dr. Otuaro for what he described as accountable and responsive leadership, noting that protests and demonstrations by PAP beneficiaries had significantly reduced since his assumption of office.
He said, “The Ijaw people and the entire Niger Delta have noticed with sincere satisfaction the significant reduction in protests and demonstrations by PAP beneficiaries since Dr. Otuaro came on board.”
He added that scholarship beneficiaries, empowerment contractors and other beneficiaries had experienced greater assurance of prompt payment of their entitlements.
According to him, “Scholarship beneficiaries, empowerment contractors and other beneficiaries of the programme have enjoyed a greater assurance of prompt payment of their due entitlements.”
Dr. Okotete said the visit was also intended to explore areas of stronger partnership between the organised youth body and PAP, particularly in ensuring that more Niger Delta youths were captured under the programme.
He said, “Our visit is intended to seek out areas of greater partnership between the organised youth body and the Presidential Amnesty Programme to ensure that a greater number of Niger Delta youths are absorbed into the programme and provided with opportunities to acquire skills, generate wealth and contribute to sustainable development.”
He added that the IYC would engage other leadership components and structures covered by the PAP mandate to obtain relevant information that could be used to strengthen collaboration with the programme.
“We want to work in synergy with the Presidential Amnesty Programme to achieve greater reach and better results for our people, who are the actual intended beneficiaries of the programme,” he said.
Otuaro: IYC is a Worthy Partner
Responding, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, described the visit by the IYC leadership as timely and welcomed the council as a worthy partner in the task of advancing the development of the Niger Delta.
Dr. Otuaro urged the IYC, as a major stakeholder, to continue to offer constructive criticism whenever necessary.
He said, “You are major stakeholders in the Niger Delta project, and I encourage you to constructively criticise where necessary. My doors are always open to ideas and suggestions on how we can do more for our people.”
The PAP Administrator disclosed that approximately 10,000 Niger Delta youths had so far benefited from various educational opportunities under his administration.
He said, “So far, about 10,000 Niger Delta youths have benefited from educational opportunities under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. About 8,700 are currently pursuing first-degree programmes in universities across Nigeria, while approximately 1,300 are undertaking Master’s and PhD programmes in various institutions in the United Kingdom.”
Dr. Otuaro further disclosed that 150 beneficiaries, comprising 50 First Class graduates and 100 Second Class Upper graduates, had pre on August 20 for Master’s degree programmes.
He said, “ 150 of our beneficiaries, comprising 50 First Class graduates and 100 Second Class Upper graduates, will be departing for their Master’s degree programmes.”
Otuaro Commends Tinubu Administration
The PAP Administrator also commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its efforts in sustaining peace and stability in the South-South region, particularly in Ijaw areas.
According to him, “The South-South region, particularly the Ijaw territory, is experiencing relative peace, and we commend the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for its efforts in ensuring this stability.”
He noted that oil theft had drastically reduced, alongside the associated activities of illegal oil bunkering and environmental degradation.
Dr. Otuaro said, “Oil theft has drastically reduced, and so has the illegal oil bunkering that goes with it. This has also contributed to a reduction in environmental degradation in the region.”
He stressed that the prevailing peace in the region was important to the economic development of the Niger Delta and the country at large.
The IYC leadership reiterated its commitment to working with PAP and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of the Presidential Amnesty Programme reach more youths across the Niger Delta.