The Plateau State Government has taken a major step in strengthening human capital development with the sponsorship of 200 students to India under the newly introduced Mutfwang Legacy Scholarship Scheme.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang formally sent off the beneficiaries on Tuesday during a ceremony held in Jos, describing the initiative as one of the largest foreign education interventions ever undertaken by the state.
According to a report by ARISE News, the students will study Medical Sciences, Engineering, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Sanskaram University, India.
Speaking at the event, Governor Mutfwang said the scholarship programme was designed as a strategic, merit-based investment in education, emphasising that the entire selection process was transparent and free from political or external influence.
“This process was not manipulated or influenced in any way. Everyone selected is here because of hard work and excellence,” the governor said.
He explained that the screening exercise was conducted independently by Sanskaram University to ensure credibility and fairness.
Mutfwang further stressed that the beneficiaries were chosen strictly on merit, without consideration for political affiliation, local government origin, institutional quota, or personal connections.
“We did not allocate slots to politicians, local governments or institutions. Plateau has some of the brightest minds in this country, and we insisted on a purely merit-based process,” he stated.
Addressing the students, the governor urged them to uphold discipline, integrity, and excellence, reminding them that they were ambassadors of Plateau State and Nigeria.
“What God is giving you through us are wings to fly. Devote yourselves to excellence because the future of Plateau State and Nigeria will depend on you,” he told the scholars.
The governor also revealed that his administration had introduced new education-sector reforms in the 2026 budget, including the establishment of a special research fund for Plateau indigenes in tertiary institutions, the expansion of postgraduate programmes at Plateau State University, and increased funding for Master’s and PhD research.
Reaffirming his broader vision, Mutfwang said his government remained committed to building “a new Plateau where no one is left behind and where religion or ethnicity will not hold us back.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Kachollom Pyam Gang, described the scholarship programme as a historic achievement, noting that no previous administration in the state had sponsored as many as 200 students abroad at the same time.
Similarly, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Scholarship Board, Nankus Adams Ngwalang, said the initiative was the most impactful intervention by the board so far, pointing to improved bursaries and expanded scholarship opportunities under the current administration.
A parent representative, Mr Fabong Adanchin, openly praised the governor’s commitment to merit-based leadership.
“I did not support you in the last election, but good leadership won me over. My son is going to India purely on merit,” he said.
Traditional and religious leaders who attended the ceremony also charged the students to return home with skills and knowledge that would contribute meaningfully to the development of Plateau State, while promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities.
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