From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Sixteen offshore post-graduate scholarship students of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated with master’s degrees from their various universities, with four earning distinction.

The graduates majored in programmes such as software engineering, oil & gas, data science & engineering, financial management, law, construction engineering management, global public health, among others.

The four with distinction include, Nina Orubebe (financial management) Tonbra Tonlagha (international hospitality and tourism), Kemien Egbekun (law) and Simon Douye (construction engineering management).

Already, the successful scholars have participated in the graduation ceremonies of their various institutions in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, including Carnegie Mellon University, Coventry University, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Dundee, Anglia Ruskin University, University of Bedfordshire, Aston University, University of Cambridge, University of South Wales and Northumbria University, among others.

The PAP, under the leadership of the Administrator, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has produced 111 master’s and doctoral degree holders- 57 from universities outside Nigeria and 54 from institutions within the country- since he assumed office in March 2024.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Otuaro commended the successful scholars for taking their studies seriously and completing their programmes within schedule, noting that they have added to the human resource base the PAP is building for the Niger Delta.

Dr. Otuaro expressed gladness that PAP scholarship students deployed within and outside Nigeria have been justifying the Federal Government’s investment in their education.

He reiterated that his large-scale deployments of scholarships align with President Bola Tinubu’s plan to close the region’s human capital development gap through his Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr. Otuaro said he is not distracted by the frivolous smear campaigns orchestrated by his detractors and blackmailers, who are not happy over the expansion of the scholarship scheme for greater access to tertiary education for Niger Deltans.

He said he is rather encouraged by the magnanimity and backing of President Tinubu who approved an upward review of the agency’s budget, emphasizing that the presidential gesture came with a mandate to increase scholarships to secure the region’s peace and future generations.

The PAP boss said, “Our decision to expand the scholarship scheme is anchored on the massive support and strong desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We will not succumb to the frivolous activities of mischief makers and detractors because many of them are not happy that we have increased educational scholarship chances for poor Niger Deltans based on the mandate of the President.

“This new set of 16 successful overseas post-graduate students sponsored by the PAP has reinforced the Federal Government’s investment in the Niger Delta youths’ education to enhance sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement in the region.

“We will continue to deliver on President Tinubu’s mandate for the Niger Delta. No amount of blackmail and campaigns of calumny will deter us because the president and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, are delighted at what we are doing.”

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the NSA, noting that they are laying a solid foundation for the peace, stability, and shared prosperity of the region.

Otuaro has deployed about 9,000 scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in Nigerian universities, and 247 for higher degrees in offshore universities.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has announced an increase in the prize money for the Diri National Scrabble Classic.

Speaking during the closing ceremonies of the sixth edition on Sunday night in Yenagoa, the state capital, an impressed Governor Diri announced that the winner of the Masters category in next edition will get N5 million and the total prize money raised to N40 million from N20 million.

The Bayelsa governor also directed the Commissioners for Sports and his Education counterpart to work out the modalities for the game to be introduced in secondary schools in the state, saying it would help develop students mentally.

Diri said scrabble developed his vocabulary, spelling and thinking ability while growing up, noting that it is a mind game that builds intellect and strategic thinking.

His words: “Scrabble is a game I started playing as a youth and it helped my vocabulary and spelling ability. Today, I am very happy to hear the waves this tournament has made not only in our country but also beyond it and I like to appreciate all of you who have made the game interesting.

“Scrabble is a mind game. It is something that I will personally recommend even for our secondary schools as this is not just a sport, it is also education.

“The importance of scrabble cannot be over-emphasised as it makes you think strategically. We will continue to support the game till I leave office.

“Next year will be the last time I will have this interaction with you. So, in the next edition, the prize money for the Masters winner will be N5 million and the general category will be N40 million.”

Responding to requests from President of the Nigeria scrabble Federation, Engr. Bright Idahosa, the Bayelsa helmsman promised to influence the introduction of scrabble in the 2028 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in the state as well as support players from Nigeria participating in the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya this weekend.

He said the state’s investment in sports was due to the abundance of talents and the desire of his administration to harness them and engage youths positively.

“We have the hosting right for the 2028 National Sports Festival and the practice is that as host, you can introduce some new games, and scrabble will be part of it. We will also support those going to Kenya as requested.

“We have a lot of talented youths and sports is one way to develop them. We are among the top sporting states in Nigeria and that is why we are investing in sports to develop our talents.”

In his remarks, Bright Idahosa said scrabble brought global attention to Nigeria after the country won the world championship in 2015 and that the game has continued to gain national and international prominence.

He said the NSF was profoundly grateful to Governor Diri for his unrelenting support for the game, saying it reverberates all over as Nigeria is the best scrabble playing nation in Africa and the world.

Idahosa hailed the performance of the governor, whom he described as a silent achiever while highlighting some of his infrastructure development projects in the state.

The Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, in his remarks, said scrabble was a mind sport that needed to be supported and celebrated.

He also stated that the 2028 national sports festival would be the best in the country, saying work on the 30,000-capacity and 15,000-capacity stadia was progressing well and will be delivered on schedule.

Chairman, Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Daniel Alabrah, said this year’s edition was significant as it had the highest number of registered players in any scrabble tournament in the country with over 300 participants just as it offered the highest prize money so far.

Alabrah appreciated Governor Diri for supporting scrabble, saying it has redefined and increased the interest of youths in the game in Nigeria.

He said the state scrabble association alongside the NSF would work towards making the next edition an international tournament as the just ended classic had participants from Ghana.

He also stated that the edition witnessed some improvements such as online registration, online recording of scores and live-streaming, which took the game to the entire world as it was on.

Abdulmimin Jimoh emerged champion of the Masters and took home the N2 million prize and a trophy while Bayelsa-born Felix Igolukumo won the Intermidiate category with N1.2 million and a trophy, and his compatriot, Godwin Angoye, came tops in the Opens with a prize of N700,000 and a trophy.

For the third time, Oladokun Esan took the Veterans category and a N900,000 prize and trophy while Godwin Joseph claimed the top spot in the Students category with a N150,000 prize and trophy.

Each category had between 10 and 15 prize winners while the governor announced a special gift of N1 million each to seven-year-old Abdulsalam Yusuf from Kwara State and nine-year-old Bayelsa-born Elizabeth Fun-ere.

The Highlight of the event was the exhibition game between the NSF president and the governor, which the latter won.

From Wins Charity, Owerri

The Traditional Ruler of Assa, Obosa-Umuepe Communities Eze Emmanuel Asor has decried insisant attack by Fulani herdsmen for killing, abduction and destruction of farmland in the Communities in Ohaji Egbemna Local Government Area of Imo State.

Asor said that In Abacheke Community Fulani herdsmen on motorcycle fired sporadically Four Confirmed dead, one injured Farmland destroyed, and intimidation heightened in Assa, Obosa-Assa, Umuepe communities

He further stated that Fulani herdsmen with cows have repeatedly invaded farmlands and destroyed cassava, yam, plantain amongst others.

The traditional ruler Eze Emmanuel,Asor said that the little land they have been invaded by Fulani herdsmen and no fewer than,260 Cow grazing in farmlands adding that hunger is imminent because crops were eaten by the Fulani Cow

Eze Asor further said that in Abacheke Community, Gunmen on motorcycles fired sporadically four people confirmed dead on arrival, one person injured and right now Police have deployed tactical teams to the areas.

He highlighting that in Asaa Fulani herdsmen recently killed 1 dead, 9 injure while, five were abducted

Eze disclosed that HURIWA has accused “armed Fulani herders” of “sustained killings” in Imo which is well acknowledge across the State.

He however condemned misinformation and urged the Youths in the Areas to remain calm and he noted that oil companies have took most land, leaving little for farming which is now invaded my Fulani herdsmen