By Labofa Ukuta Ogoba
The Head of Education Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP)Dr. Charles Ariye, said the PAP will partner Hensard University to train youths of the Niger Delta in formal and informal education.Dr. Ariye explained that this was necessary as the PAP is at the reintegration phase that focuses on training youths in the Niger Delta in the bid to reintegrate them into society. He made this known when he led his PAP education team on a facility inspection visit to Hensard University in Toru Orua.
The PAP Head of Education said with the facilities on the ground at Hensard University as an institution are enough to deliver quality education to the youths of the region and serve the interest of the PAP’s scheme.
“We are here from the Presidential Amnesty programme at Abuja. As you are aware, the amnesty programme is a DDR’s programme and we are in the R stage of it which is reintegration. Basically, it means training the youths of the Niger Delta in informal and formal education so that they can be easily reintegrated into society. Hansard is a high education institution and within the context of formal education, they wrote us a letter to partner with the PAP and we are here for facility inspection.
“We were well received; they took us round and we are satisfied with what we have seen. We are going to return to Abuja, write our report and hopefully, the final decision will be in favour of Hensard in terms of partnership with the PAP.” Dr. Ariye assured.
In his response, Professor Dileep Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Hensard University said, it will be a thing of pleasure to have beneficiaries of the PAP programme at Hensard University, saying that, a partnership between the PAP and Hensard University will be a great opportunity for Bayelsans and the Institution as it has what it takes to deliver quality education to the beneficiaries of the programme. Professor Kumar informed me that the institution is open to more partnerships in the bid to deliver academic excellence across the nation and throughout the globe.
“It’s a great opportunity for Bayelsa State specifically and for Hansard University this visit of the PAP, because a lot of students would like to get appropriate education from the PAP, we are chosen for this particular programme. We are so happy to get amnesty students over here, they have trusted us because we have the quality of education, faculty members.
“We are assuring the PAP that, we will take care of the students in the proper way towards achieving the set goals.” The VC said. .Also in the PAP education team were Mr. Anthony George, Assistant Head of Education and Mr. Darlington Igwe, Principal Reintegration Advisor.