The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has trained 98 repentant militants on a refresher course dealing with the acquisition of maritime related skills.
At the passing out ceremony of the trainees, held at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Otomewo, Delta State, the Administrator of the PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, said the deployment of the trainees for the exercise is part of the amnesty programme manpower and human resources development scheme for the Niger Delta.
He described the training as strategic, stressing that it was aimed at equipping the maritime cadets with the requisite skills for the country’s maritime industry that was anchored on President Bola Tinubu’s policy on the blue economy.
Otuaro said: “I am very delighted that you have successfully completed your boot camp and refresher course. It is another significant milestone that underscores the commitment of the PAP under my leadership, towards developing the requisite manpower and human capital for the Niger Delta.
“Manpower and human resources development are critical to the economic growth and development of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.
“More importantly, your training in specialised maritime related skills is very strategic. It aligns with the policy of President Tinubu, on the blue economy to harness the massive opportunities in the nation’s maritime industry for national development.”
He lauded the president, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for their unwavering support for the PAP and the region’s economic growth, development and stability.
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Otuaro said that his administration would strive to train more Niger Deltans in specialised vocational skills in diverse trade areas, formal education, post-training empowerment, among others, under the programme’s reintegration template to foster sustainable peace in the region.
He congratulated the maritime cadets on the remarkable feat they had achieved, and advised them to explore the vast opportunities in the blue economy and maritime domain, which is their natural environment as Niger Deltans.
Otuaro also commended them for demonstrating high discipline throughout the duration of their training, urging them to show professionalism and competence which would help them when players in the maritime industry engage their services.
He also expressed appreciation to the management of the institute for justifying the confidence reposed in them with the thorough and professional handling of the maritime cadets’ training.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of awards/certificates to the 98 maritime cadets by the PAP boss.
