Abuja—Social commentator and media practitioner, Mr. Sam Dogitimi has extolled the Head of Reintegration, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Hon. Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, describing him as a good and trustworthy individual.
Sam who is the publisher of mangrovepen.ng in a Facebook post recounted how Alfred helped him to secure a PAP-sponsored scholarship for a master’s degree programme at Baze University, Abuja.
The post reads in part:
“I called Bobo Tonye to greet him as I do once in a while. He picked up and said he was in Uyo or somewhere in Ondo attending an amnesty function.
“The ex-agitator also hinted that he is flanking PAP’s Head of Reintegration, Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, whom he immediately gave the phone to speak with me.
“Alfred, in his usual manner, spoke to me like someone delighted to hear from a friend she or he had not spoken to for years (we had actually not spoken for some weeks before the call), asking me to come to his office upon his return to Abuja the following week.
“I was glad to have heard from him as I needed to confirm if the Interim Administrator had minuted or said anything regarding the documentary proposal I had tendered a few months ago.
“Thereafter I called Sokari Goodboy Sokari and told him Alfred asked me to come. The following week, the assembly hopeful ensured the security personnel allowed me in to see Alfred:
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“The one I have fondly been calling the Honourable Comrade since the day he invited me to the newly-commissioned Government House in 2016 or thereabout wherein I met and conversed with Allen Ibiba-Harry, Ebilade Ekerefe, and Bonnke Timinpre.
“As I waited for Alfred to arrive at the office, I met a friend and fellow Niger Deltan who had just gotten a scholarship from PAP for an undergraduate course at Baze University, Abuja.
“He and another guy were pouring encomiums on Dikio, on Alfred, on the federal government for giving them the opportunity to further their education and become more productive members of society.
“My discussion with the new beneficiaries instantly spiked a desire to also benefit from the scholarship scheme, being an indigene of several impacted communities.
“This was in February while I was about to conclude my PGD programme sponsored by Prince Gabriel Jonah.
“Some minutes later, Alfred arrived the building, greeted us, climbed upstairs into his office, came out shortly, and took me downstairs while excusing others.
“What is happening? Hope all is well. He asked.
“I told him I came because of the proposal and he explained there is no new development regarding it yet. I immediately told him I needed a scholarship as well; though in the next batch, later this year.
“Alfred: “But why did you not say this since na! Ah! Okay, confirm if your preferred course is in Baze.”
“I visited the university campus that same day and returned to the Amnesty office in the evening, confirming to Alfred that I can do a master’s degree programme in mass communication since I am already a trained journalist. But I have to start the next semester.
“I told him exactly what I told my HOD: I don’t mind continuing with other students that same semester. I will try and meet up.”
He revealed that “right away, Alfred impulsively phoned a senior official of the school and pleaded with him to include me in the 22A set.”
Sam, who is also the managing director of Brassian Media Limited, an Abuja-based public relations firm, added that he later gained admission and was also awarded the PAP scholarship to be a better media practitioner.
“Alfred may be many things to many people. But to me, he has been a good senior friend for years who facilitated my scholarship earlier this year,” he said.
