First Graduate With Doctoral Degree Emerges From PAP Scholarship

13 years after the Niger Delta ex-agitators program’s inception, the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s (PAP) scholarship program has graduated its first doctor of philosophy (PhD) graduate.

At a meeting between Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retired), the interim administrator, and Phase three ex-agitators in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the first doctoral degree holder, Dr. Tam Godspower Odogwu, expressed his happiness for the accomplishment.

The certificate would be presented to Odogwu at the next convocation of the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, he said, adding that he took use of the opportunity provided by PAP to obtain the best academic success.

Odogwu stated that he utilised the PAP opportunity to achieve the highest level of academic success and added that the certificate would be presented to him at the upcoming convocation of the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State.

He argued that the achievement provided a platform for others to realise their academic potential and tasked other PAP participants with making the most of the chance presented.                                                       

He urged the Federal Government to refrain from ending the programme due to its advantages for the Niger Delta’s economic growth.

He said: “I am extremely lucky, fortunate, and happy.” When I got the opportunity, I had to make good use of it and today I have. Having a Ph.D at this time means a lot because you are somebody that has to contribute to the society meaningfully.

“Today, a lot has been said about the amnesty programme. Even the federal government is feeling that the amnesty programme is heading for a different dimension and it’s not productive, but I want to use this medium to appeal to the federal government that the amnesty programme is really doing well.

“It’s just that the previous administrators were not able to put certain things in place but that simply displays the human nature of being imperfect. This doesn’t mean that the PAP in itself is not good and beneficial. This programme is one of the best things that has happened to the people of the Niger Delta.

“The amnesty programme is one of the things that has largely contributed to the peace we enjoy in the Niger Delta. The programme has also secretly produced a lot of Niger Delta graduates. As we speak, this programme is also producing a lot of masters degree   and I happen to be the first PhD holder, and I know a lot more are coming.

“The best thing that the federal government has done to the Niger Delta people is the amnesty. Initially, when the offer came, we were scared. Nobody wanted to receive this offer when former President Yarádua presented it in 2009,                                                                                                                                                                                                         

“we never knew what the federal government had in mind. Today, we can see that even the current President, who continued the amnesty programme has the best of intentions for us”.

Odogwu, whose thesis was on public and private partnerships (PPP), with a focus on the anchor borrower programme, an agricultural initiative of the federal government, said if fully implemented it would benefit many people in the Niger Delta region.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Ndiomu, saying that he had the capacity to run the programme efficiently and urged people of the region to support him to achieve his plans.

Ndimou in his remarks said despite some challenges, PAP had produced some positive results and commended the likes of Odogwu for justifying the huge sums expended by government on the scholarship scheme of the programme.

He noted that the PAP would continue to support bright minds and those willing to be successful to achieve their desired goals.