Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has facilitated the sponsorship of 200 students to India through the newly established Mutfwang Legacy Scholarship Scheme, which has been characterised as one of the most extensive overseas education initiatives undertaken by the state in recent times.
According to Online News, the selected students, who will study Medical Sciences, Engineering, and Information and Communication Technology at Sanskaram University, were officially flagged off on Tuesday during a send-off event held in Jos.
Governor Mutfwang described the programme as a “strategic, merit-driven investment in human capital development,” and emphasised that the entire selection exercise was conducted openly, without any political influence.
“This process was not manipulated or influenced in any way. Everyone selected is here because of hard work and excellence,” he said, noting that the screening was independently handled by Sanskaram University.
He further explained that the inaugural batch of beneficiaries was chosen strictly on merit, with no regard for political affiliation, institutional representation, or quota systems.
“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,” Mutfwang stated.
While addressing the departing students, the governor encouraged them to uphold discipline and moral uprightness, reminding them that they represent Plateau State wherever they go.
“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 said.
Mutfwang also revealed that his government has rolled out new reforms in the education sector, as outlined in the 2026 budget. These include the establishment of a dedicated research fund for Plateau indigenes in higher institutions, the expansion of postgraduate offerings at Plateau State University, and greater financial backing for Master’s and doctoral research.
He reiterated his resolve to build “a new Plateau where no one is left behind and where religion or ethnicity will not hold us back.”
Earlier in the programme, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kachollom Pyam Gang, described the scholarship initiative as a landmark achievement, pointing out that no previous government in the state had sponsored up to 200 students abroad in a single effort.
In the same vein, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Scholarship Board, Nankus Adams Ngwalang, described the scheme as the board’s most significant intervention to date, highlighting improvements in bursary payments and the expansion of scholarship opportunities under the current administration.
Speaking on behalf of parents, Mr. Fabong Adanchin praised the governor’s dedication 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 advised the students to return home with valuable knowledge and expertise that would drive the development of Plateau State, while fostering unity among the beneficiaries from diverse backgrounds.
