The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) currently under Dr. Dennis Otuaro as interim administrator, is revolutionising the region into an innovation hub. Accordimg to the amnesty boss, the vision is to redefine the future of the Niger Delta through a bold new approach that replaces conflict with innovation and dependency on productivity.
Since his assumption in office, Otuaro has reshaped the narratives with a maxim called the ‘Otuaro Doctrine’ a policy geared towards reintegration, education, technology, and sustainable entrepreneurship, a departure from the traditional stipend-based model to one that empowers ex-agitators and youths with globally relevant skills.
A senior official in the amnesty office said the strategy a shift from “giving aman a fish, or even teaching him how to fish,” but “about about training him to master marine engineering, aquaculture technology, and global export logistics. Dr. Otuaro sees these youths not as beneficiaries, but as the architects of the Niger Delta’s economic diversification.”
Over 160 international scholars sponsored by the PAP are currently pursuing degrees in cybersecurity, data science, marine engineering, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. In addition, hundreds of onshore students are enrolled in Nigerian universities, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals equipped to drive innovation and development.
Indsiders say one of the major innovations under Otuaro’s leadership is the creation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) linking trained beneficiaries with employment opportunities in technology, oil and gas, and agriculture.
The amnesty programme has also introduced a mentorship network that connects successful graduates with new trainees, ensuring a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment. An advocacy group known as Polivox urged Nigerians to acknowledge Dr. Otuaro’s leadership as a defining moment for the Niger Delta.
The national publicity secretary of Polivox, Mr. Afekhai John, said Otuaro ha moved the Niger Delta from conflict to construction, from arms to algorithms, adding that “Niger Delta’s success is Nigeria’s success.”
