By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
*…PhD Gets N100,000, Masters N70,000, Degree/HND N40,000, NCE/Diploma N30,000*
*…“This Is Not Politics, It Is For All Mikang Students” — Rt Hon Naanlong Daniel Gapyil Said. To
The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil, has flagged off the disbursement of his 2026 Annual Free Scholarship Reimbursement for Mikang students in universities, colleges and polytechnics within and outside Plateau State.
The symbolic presentation was held in Jos at plateau state polytechnic jos campus for students schooling within the Northern Zone, with Mr. Victor Gyang, Director of Research and Planning, Plateau State Scholarship Board, joining the Speaker for the disbursement.
A total of *1,431 students* are benefiting from the scheme this year, at a cost of over *N52.1 million* for students alone, and over *N60 million* including logistics.
*Breakdown of Beneficiaries*
According to the Speaker, the beneficiaries include:
– *PhD:* 7 students — *N100,000 each*
– *Masters:* — *N70,000 each*
– *Degree:* 608 students — *N40,000 each*
– *HND:* 101 students — *N40,000 each*
– *NCE:* 232 students — *N30,000 each*
– *Diploma:* 432 students — *N30,000 each*
He explained that the Jos event was strictly for institutions within the Northern Zone to reduce transport burden on students. Students in the Central Zone — Bokkos, Pankshin, Federal College of Education Pankshin, School of Health — will receive theirs in Pankshin, while those in the Southern Senatorial Zone will meet in Mikang, on dates to be announced.
*“I Started This In 2016, Others Joined” — Scholarship Board Boss*
In her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Scholarship Board, Mrs. Nankus Adams, described the Speaker as the pioneer of constituency scholarships in Plateau State.
“This is not the first time the Honourable Speaker is investing in the lives of students. He is the first person to start giving scholarship to Plateau State students. And this started in 2016. After that, others keyed into it,” she said.
“As I am talking to you today, we have more than 20 members that have joined in giving scholarship to their various constituencies.”
Mrs. Adams assured students who were on break and could not attend that they would still receive their money, as all screened students had been captured.
She advised beneficiaries to use the money judiciously for handouts, projects and other academic needs, and not to squander it.
“Use it well for your handouts, your project and other things that will augment your suffering while in school. Even if you are still at home, when you collect this money, go and deposit it in the bank,” she advised.
*“No Society Can Grow Without Education” — Gapyil*
Addressing the students, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil said no society can attain greatness if its people are not educated and enlightened.
“We are doing this gesture not because we want to be politically correct, but we are doing it intentionally because we want to build a future that will strengthen the quality of knowledge within Mikang, Plateau State and Nigeria,” he said.
He recalled that when he came in in 2015, statistics showed Mikang was backward in enrolment into higher institutions, with many parents preferring to take their children to farm than to school.
“I was compelled by necessity to find a definite way of encouraging those who really want to go to school,” he said.
The Speaker recalled his own student days when scholarship stipends came at a time when pocket money had finished, describing it as a lifeline that made students feel like “big boys.”
He said the intervention did not stop at tertiary scholarships, but extended to payment of SSCE/WAEC fees and free JAMB registration for Mikang students.
“I am glad that the recent statistics from the Ministry of Education show that the number of enrolment of our students has gone beyond that of Langtang South, Kanke and some local communities that were ahead of us,” he said.
*Scholarship Is For All, Not Politics*
Gapyil stressed that the scholarship was deliberately held after the primaries to avoid political sentiments.
“I wanted after the primaries, because I know that beneficiaries may be some people who have supported me and some may not have supported me. If I did it before, some students will be left out simply because they have personal opinions,” he said.
“Democracy does not support that. What I am doing is not about politics, it is for the people of Mikang irrespective of whether you are PDP, APC or belong to any political party. So long as you are a Mikang person, this scholarship is for you. There will be no victimisation.”
He further announced a new incentive: best-performing students with high grades will enjoy *100% scholarship* going forward.
“If you finish your degree, don’t stay there, go for your Masters. When you are done with your Masters, go for your PhD. It will only get better,” he said.
*Choose Your Friends Wisely — Speaker Advises Students*
The Speaker also counselled students on discipline, friendship and focus.
“Choose your friends. You didn’t choose your brothers, God decided to bring them your way. But you have a duty to decide who is going to be your friend, because your friendship determines where you are going in life,” he said.
“Attach yourself with the best in your class. Attach yourself with friends that are aspiring.”
He urged students to be good ambassadors of Mikang and to be proud of their local government, noting ongoing road projects from Lipidi-Piapung-Tunkus and Lali-Garkawa.
*Goodwill Messages*
Former Speaker, Rt. Hon. George Daika, urged students to value education, describing it as the bedrock of success and the key to all achievements.
“Educate an individual, you are educating an entire community,” he said.
Former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Sule, said Rt Hon Naanlong Daniel Gapyil had set a precedence in Mikang, noting that the scholarship would not clear all problems but would bring succour and alleviate suffering.
The former Chairman of Mikang Local Government Council, Hon. Austin Bako, thanked the Speaker on behalf of students, saying he never enjoyed such privilege in his student days.
Hon. Dio L. also urged students to believe that from among them would emerge future Speakers, Deputy Governors, Governors and Presidents.
In an interview with Lapsark Yilwatda, popularly known as Lapipi, Convener of _Tinubu or Nothing_, has commended the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel Gapyil, for his scholarship scheme for Mikang students, describing education as a collective responsibility.
Speaking in an interview during the scholarship disbursement in Jos, Lapipi said the Speaker had chosen a path worth emulating.
“What he is doing today is very important to every society. We encourage other members of the House of Assembly and other political appointees to emulate this kind of approach towards education,” he said.
“Education should not just be the responsibility of government, but everybody should be involved in making sure that every household, every community is educated.”
*On Tinubu’s Visit To Plateau, 1 Million Votes Promise*
On the forthcoming visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Plateau State and the modalities put in place to deliver the promised over one million votes, Lapipi said his team had concluded massive mobilisation plans.
“By God’s grace, on Saturday, you are going to see that we are going to show capacity through mobilisation,” he said.
“We have had a lot of conversations with community leaders, religious leaders, students, student communities, and top politicians on the Plateau to mobilise people and show our love to Mr. President.”
He said President Tinubu has done a lot of things that have benefited Plateau State, and the visit would be an opportunity for the people to reciprocate that love.
“By God’s grace, the people will see it clearly that we are going to give over one million votes on the Plateau,” he said.
*On Inciting Statements*
Reacting to concerns over inflammatory political statements in some quarters, including threats like “we can die,” Lapipi said he was hearing such statements for the first time.
“For us in APC, we are not inciting anybody. We are not working against anybody. We are just playing politics,” he said.
“We are just showing people the cards, what we have done, and that is the reason why you should vote for us. As simple as that.”
He stressed that the group would not incite anybody to fight or rig elections in Plateau State.
*Beneficiaries React*
Shagah Blessing Bitrus, a PhD Accounting student at the University of Jos, described the gesture as the first of its kind and proof that it was not a campaign stunt.
“To pay for a PhD is not a one-man project. We are really grateful that he is coming at this time that the economy is very unstable,” she said.
Michael Sotbok, an MSc student at Bayero University, Kano, said the support would cushion transportation, feeding and academic costs, and called on other local governments to emulate the Speaker.
*“My Joy Is Putting Smiles On Faces”*
In an interview, Gapyil said his joy is seeing smiles on the faces of the younger generation.
“My desire is to see that in the next five, ten years, my constituency will compete comfortably with other local governments that were ahead of us,” he said.
He said he deliberately declared a state of emergency on education in Mikang to encourage parents, especially farmers, and to promote girl-child education and discourage early marriage.
“There is no society that will grow outside education. Education gives you the opportunity to choose what you really want to be in life,” he said.
