Jayapura, Jubi – Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa has praised the Puncak Cerdas 2026 scholarship program, describing it as a long-term investment in the region’s future and a model that other regencies should follow.

The initiative, launched by Puncak Regent Elvis Tabuni, is sending 317 students from Puncak Regency to Semarang, Central Java, where they will continue their education under the guidance of the Binterbusih Foundation.

The students were officially sent off during a ceremony at Negelar Hall in Ilaga, the capital of Puncak Regency, on Monday. Tabuni was represented by his expert staff member, Elkana Rumaropen.

Nawipa said the program reflects the provincial government’s vision of strengthening Central Papua through investment in its people.

“As Governor of Central Papua, I highly appreciate Puncak Regent Elvis Tabuni. This is the right step and is in line with the province’s vision of developing Central Papua by investing in its own human resources,” Nawipa said on Monday.

He reaffirmed that education remains the provincial government’s top priority, adding that initiatives such as Puncak Cerdas help address the limited access to quality education in Papua’s mountainous regions.

The governor also encouraged other regencies across Central Papua to adopt similar scholarship programs through sustainable and well-planned partnerships.

According to Nawipa, investing in education is one of the most effective long-term strategies for overcoming development challenges in remote areas, where difficult terrain and limited educational opportunities continue to hinder progress.

He said the scholarship program goes beyond providing educational assistance, describing it as an investment in the future of the region.

“When these students return with knowledge and strong character, they will become the driving force behind progress in their own homeland,” he said.

Nawipa stressed that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with improving the quality of human resources, warning that physical development alone cannot deliver lasting progress without a well-educated workforce.

“This program is the answer to the limited access to higher education in remote areas,” he said. (*)