By Atoyebi Nike
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has sponsored 200 students to India under the newly launched Mutfwang Legacy Scholarship Scheme, one of the largest foreign education initiatives ever undertaken by the state.
The beneficiaries, who will study Medical Sciences, Engineering, and Information and Communication Technology, departed on Tuesday after a formal send-off ceremony in Jos. They will pursue their degree programmes at Sanskaram University in India.
Governor Mutfwang described the programme as a strategic investment in human capital, stressing that the selection process followed strict merit and transparency standards.
“There was no manipulation or political influence. Everyone selected earned it through hard work and excellence,” he said, noting that Sanskaram University independently supervised the screening process.
He said the government did not allocate slots to politicians, local governments, or institutions, insisting that the first batch emerged solely on academic merit.
Addressing the students, Mutfwang urged them to uphold discipline and integrity, describing them as ambassadors of Plateau State. He added that his administration had rolled out new education reforms in the 2026 budget, including a special research fund for Plateau indigenes, expanded postgraduate programmes at Plateau State University, and increased support for Master’s and PhD research.
Earlier, Commissioner for Education Dr Kachollom Pyam Gang described the initiative as unprecedented, while Scholarship Board Acting Executive Secretary Nankus Adams Ngwalang said it was the board’s most impactful intervention to date.
A parent representative, Fabong Adanchin, praised the merit-based process, saying the governor’s leadership had earned his trust.
