By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has concluded the distribution of laptops to final year beneficiaries of its scholarship scheme aimed at enhancing their academic research in universities across Nigeria.

The agency presented a total of 663 laptops to the beneficiaries in the 26 partnering and 72 non-partnering universities at the end of the exercise, which lasted between April and May 2025.

The PAP also carried out physical verification and orientation programme for the newly deployed 3,171 beneficiaries in the resumption list for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Various teams coordinated by the PAP’s Head of Education, Dr Charles Ariye, visited the schools to distribute the laptops to the beneficiaries and perform the verification and orientation programme.

Speaking on the laptops distribution, the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, reiterated that the decision was based on the realization of the usefulness of the mobile computing device to the students’ academic pursuit and overall success.

He said the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise to the scholarship beneficiaries during his tour of partnering universities in 2024.

While expressing optimism that the laptops would help the beneficiaries a great deal, Otuaro urged them to make good use of them and justify the government’s huge investment in their education.

He also said the physical verification and orientation programme was part of his leadership’s policy of due process, transparency and accountability to ensure a headcount of all beneficiaries, and enlighten the fresh beneficiaries on the PAP’s education policy.

Otuaro advised all PAP scholarship students to take their studies seriously and shun acts capable of putting their academic pursuit in jeopardy and ruining their bright future.

He restated his leadership’s unwavering commitment to implementing the programme’s objectives for the advancement of the Niger Delta and in support of President Bola Tinubu’s avowed commitment to the region’s peace, stability and development.

“We will continue to partner with the institutions and create access to university education for our youths, thereby reducing the human capital gap in the Niger Delta and contributing to national manpower development.

“This is also with a view to deepening efforts to ensure sustainable peace, stability and socio-economic growth in the region in line with the renewed hope agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR”, Otuaro said.

The PAP helmsman expressed profound appreciation to the president for his massive support for the programme, noting that it demonstrates his undiluted love for the Niger Delta and the youths in particular.

By Our Reporter

In a bid to pacify the anger of most Nigerians on the poor performance of  students 2ho sat for JAMB examination,the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Is’haq Oloyede, has announced that candidates who missed the examination would be allowed to retake it.

Oloyede noted that the decision aims to provide an opportunity for affected candidates to demonstrate their abilities.

Speaking with journalists during meeting with stakeholders in at Board Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday,Oloyede clarified that his emotional response to the technical issues that plagued the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was not a sign of weakness, but rather a demonstration of accountability.

Oloyede’s remarks came in response to criticisms following the examination’s glitches, which affected candidate performance.

He acknowledged the errors, stating that “what should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors.” He noted that over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 out of 400 marks, sparking concerns in the education sector.

Oloyede expressed disappointment that some individuals without knowledge of JAMB’s operations were publicly criticizing the board. He emphasized his commitment to accountability, citing his track record in educational advancement and examination conduct.

In thewords of the Registrar: “As chief executive of JAMB, I don’t really care where any of our staff comes from, all I know is that they have been doing their jobs for years.

“The emotional breakdown on my part was not a sign of weakness neither is it an excuse to adjudicate our responsibilities. Let us not decent to a level where some people begin to pontificate because some people want to take advantage of the situation on ground”.

The JAMB boss also paid tribute to a candidate who allegedly took their life due to the examination outcome, observing a minute of silence during the meeting.

He reiterated that the emotional toll he experienced was not an excuse, but a genuine response to the situation.