Mutfwang Okays Scholarship For 200 Undergraduate Plateau Students In India

Plateau State Governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang has approved the sponsorship of 200 students for undergraduate degree programmes in Medical Sciences, Engineering, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Sanskaram University, India.

Presiding over the farewell ceremony for the beneficiaries, the Governor described the initiative as a strategic, merit-driven investment in human capital development aimed at securing the future of Plateau State through education, discipline, and global exposure.

He emphasised that the beneficiaries, drawn from across the three senatorial zones of the state, emerged through a transparent, competitive, and strictly merit-based selection process.

“This process was not manipulated or influenced in any way. Everyone selected is here because of hard work and excellence. If they did not earn it by merit, nobody would be discussing them,” he stated.

The governor added that the selection was independently supervised by the partner university to ensure credibility.

Mutfwang further clarified that the programme was deliberately insulated from political, institutional, or quota considerations.

“We did not allocate slots to politicians, local governments, or institutions. We insisted that this first batch must be purely merit-based because Plateau State has produced some of the brightest minds in this country, and we believe God has blessed us with excellence,” he said.

While addressing the departing students, Mutfwang charged them to uphold discipline, moral integrity, and academic excellence as worthy ambassadors of Plateau State and Nigeria.

“What God is giving you through us are wings to fly. Wheqn the hour of temptation comes, remember where you are coming from. Devote yourselves to excellence, because the future of Plateau State and Nigeria will depend on you,” he admonished.

He also unveiled broader reforms in the education sector, disclosing that the 2026 budget provides for a special research fund for Plateau indigene in tertiary institutions, expanded postgraduate programmes at Plateau State University, and enhanced support for Master’s and PhD research.

“This is just the beginning. We are deliberately investing in our institutions so they can compete favourably at national and global levels,” he said, reiterating his administration’s resolve to build “a new Plateau where no one is left behind and where religion or ethnicity will not hold us back.”

In her remarks, the Commissioner of Education, Dr Kachollom Pyam Gang, described the scheme as a historic milestone in Plateau State’s educational advancement, noting that it was unprecedented for a sitting governor to sponsor as many as 200 students for overseas studies at once.

Gang commended Governor Mutfwang’s vision and personal sacrifice, affirming that the beneficiaries’ admission into Sanskaram University was earned through discipline and academic excellence.

“Excellence is not a destination; it is a habit. Return with knowledge, with stories, and with the fire to build a healthier and more prosperous Plateau State,” she charged.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Scholarship Board, Nankus Adams Ngwalang, applauded Governor Mutfwang for the novel initiative, describing it as the most impactful intervention the board has experienced.

Ngwalang noted that the administration has increased bursary allowances for students, sponsored scholarship programmes to Liberty University, and granted the board the autonomy to operate in the interest of peace and progress in the state.

Speaking on behalf of parents, Mr. Fabong Adanchin expressed profound gratitude to the Governor, describing the initiative as transformative.

“I did not support you in the last election, but good leadership won me over. Today, my son is going to India purely on merit. This seed you have sown will outlive us, because the child of a widow, a poor man, and an orphan can now access quality education,” he said.

The event, which drew government officials, parents, traditional rulers, and religious leaders, underscored the administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, as beneficiaries comprised both Christians and Muslims. Traditional leaders urged the students to return with value and impact.

“You are going to India not just for yourselves, but for Plateau State. Bring back knowledge and excellence. Promote our oneness and make us proud,” they charged, while offering prayers for their success and safe return.