The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and Member representing Mikang State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Naanlong D. Gapyil, has flagged off the disbursement of scholarships to 1,431 students from Mikang Local Government Area studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.
The exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Plateau State Polytechnic, Jos Campus, is part of the Speaker’s ongoing educational intervention aimed at reducing the financial burden on students and encouraging higher enrolment in tertiary institutions.
The presentation in Jos was specifically for beneficiaries from the northern zone of Mikang, while students in the central and southern zones are expected to receive their scholarships at designated centres to be announced by the organisers.
The scholarship scheme covers students pursuing Diploma, National Certificate in Education (NCE), Higher National Diploma (HND), undergraduate, Master’s and PhD programmes.
Speaking at the event, Gapyil said the initiative was informed by the need to address educational challenges in Mikang and support students amid the rising cost of transportation, feeding and other academic expenses.
He disclosed that over ₦52 million had been committed to the scholarship intervention, with the total expenditure expected to exceed ₦60 million when logistics and other operational costs were included.
Giving a breakdown of the beneficiaries, the Speaker said the programme had recorded 36 students pursuing Master’s degrees, 608 undergraduate students, 101 HND students, 232 NCE students and 132 Diploma students, alongside beneficiaries in the PhD category.
He explained that the scholarship stipends were structured according to academic levels, with Diploma and NCE students receiving ₦30,000, HND and undergraduate students ₦40,000, Master’s students ₦77,000 and PhD students ₦100,000.
Gapyil recalled that his educational intervention began in 2015 following concerns over the low rate of enrolment of young people from the constituency in higher institutions.
He said the initiative had since expanded beyond tertiary education scholarships to include the payment of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for final-year students and free registration for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
According to him, the interventions were designed to encourage school enrolment, support financially disadvantaged families and address longstanding barriers to education, particularly among girls.
He noted that statistics obtained from the Ministry of Education showed significant improvement in the enrolment of Mikang students in higher institutions, expressing optimism that the constituency would be able to compete favourably with other local government areas in Plateau State within the next five to ten years.
The Speaker also assured beneficiaries that the scholarship programme was non-partisan, stressing that eligibility was based on being an indigene and resident of Mikang, rather than political affiliation.
He further announced plans to introduce additional support for outstanding students, promising full scholarship sponsorship for beneficiaries who graduate with exceptional academic results and wish to pursue further studies.
In his remarks, the Secretary of Mikang Local Government Council, Hon. Naankin Matthew Dafoum, described the initiative as an important intervention that would complement government efforts and support students struggling to meet the financial demands of education.
Dafoum also commended the Speaker for investing in the younger generation, describing the scholarship scheme as an effort to prepare students for future leadership responsibilities.
He called on beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity, stressing that they had a responsibility to excel academically and contribute to the development of their communities.
Also speaking, Hon. Lapshak Yilwatda, National Leader and Global Convener of the Tinubu or Nothing political support movement, urged other lawmakers and political leaders to emulate the initiative, noting that education should be a collective responsibility rather than the exclusive duty of government.
One of the beneficiaries, Shagah Blessing Bitrus, a PhD student of the University of Jos studying Accounting, expressed appreciation to the Speaker, describing the intervention as timely, particularly for postgraduate students facing increasing academic expenses.
She said the initiative demonstrated inclusiveness, noting that the Speaker had extended educational support beyond secondary school students to include those pursuing advanced degrees.
Another beneficiary, Michael Sotbok, a Master’s student at Bayero University, Kano, said the scholarship would help ease the financial challenges associated with transportation, feeding and other academic expenses.
He called on other local government representatives to adopt similar interventions to support students and improve access to education.
Gapyil reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising education and supporting young people, expressing hope that the intervention would contribute to building a more educated and empowered generation in Mikang.
