Governor Inaugurates Pesantren in Central Papua as Centre for Moral Development

Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa considers pondok pesantren to have a strategic role as a means of producing quality human resources (HR) with character and faith in the region.

“Pondok pesantren is not only a place to gain knowledge but also a centre for nurturing morals, ethics, and the spirituality of the younger generation,” said Meki during the inauguration of the Pondok Pesantren SMP and SMA Riyadhul Quran in Nabire on Saturday (25/4/2026).

He stated that the development of the education sector is the top priority of the Central Papua Provincial Government in realising a vision of equitable, competitive, and sustainable regional development.

According to him, the presence of religious-based educational institutions such as pesantren is an important part in expanding access to education while shaping the character of the youth in Central Papua.

The pesantren is seen as having a strategic role in forming a generation that is not only intellectually intelligent but also strong in faith values, discipline, and social responsibility.

He hopes that the educational institution will be able to produce students with integrity, discipline, and social concern to contribute to the future development of Central Papua.

He also emphasised the importance of synergy between formal education and character building in creating superior human resources. “Many people build places of worship with large budgets, but forget that places of worship will function well if there are people with good education and jobs,” he stressed.