The Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Pere Stanley Perediegha Luke-Kalanama VIII (JP) and 1st Vice Chairman of the Delta state council of Traditional Rulers, among other stakeholders, have hailed the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dr Dennis Otuaro, for engendering the economic base of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large through boosting competency in the maritime sector, as well as enhancing peace in the region.

The revered traditional ruler was speaking at the close out ceremony for the Bootcamp/Refresher Course for Maritime Delegates under the PAP which held at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research in Okpe, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

"Today has been a very remarkable day, in that some of the students that were trained by NIMASA abroad, who completed their course, are here today, trained by Joemarine Nautical Science and Research Centre for a one month refresher course that will kick start their further entrenching into the marine economy. And this program has actually brought peace to the Niger Delta region. And peace is all we need at the moment," His Majesty stressed.

Recall that the PAP had deployed 98 delegates on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, for a boot camp and a refresher course in maritime-related skills as part of its manpower development scheme for the Niger Delta.

Dr. Otuaro who presented certificates to the cadets who were awarded Officer of the Watch Navigation and Engineering as well as STCW (Standard, Training, Certification, Watchkeeping), emphasized on the need for productivity towards contributing to national economic growth.

He said, "In the Niger Delta, our way of life is in maritime. With this, we will harness all our experiences for productive purposes. With the experience they gather here, they will be employed and more of our people (because this is where we evolve for over the years) will be gainfully employed. And it is very significant for the peace, economy and social life of the people," the Administrator added.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Kennedy Akpos Epidei, lauded Dr. Otuaro for the initiative which he noted will boost youth restiveness in the region.

"Today, from the testimony that we have recorded, this training has been abandoned by other previous administrators for the last 10 years. And luckily, the Administrator, Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro deem it fit to bring these cadets to Joemarine to be trained as Officers of the Navigation Watch.

"So today, what we are doing is the refresher of a one-month training programme to refresh them on what they have been taught before, to equip them to come back; to get the certificate of competency for them to go on board the ship.

"So, we are happy of the step that the Presidential Amnesty is taking to address youth restiveness in the Niger Delta. I think the Administrator is doing everything possible is to ensure that the student or the cadets acquire the certificate of competency that can enable them to work onboard the ship," he stated.

Meanwhile, the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom has thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing the likes of Dr. Otuaro 

“I want to commend Mr. President for the choice of Dr. Dennis Otuaro, and of course the Joemarine School of Nautical and Research Center for the good work he has done; I can see the smiles on the faces of the graduands today. And God willing, I know that more will come for more refresher course.”

Speaking further His Majesty added, "Today, we are talking about oil, and oil will deplete in years to come. But the marine economy will continue to soar. So, what he has done is something that will engender the economic base of the Niger Delta region and of course, Nigeria at large.

“Because the marine world will drive the economy; the marine world will bring in so much financial foreign direct investments to Nigeria and of course by so doing the dividends of democracy will be felt by all and sundry in the Niger Delta and in the country.”

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