PNGUoT COMMEMORATES 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
Papua New Guinea University of Technology commemorated the 50th Independence celebrations with a series of events starting with the official launching ceremony.
Chair of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Organizing Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, Professor Maquin Maino, said the purpose of the multi-day program was focused on celebrating the past, understanding the present, and inspiring the future, as per the national theme.
The series of programs from the 12th to 16th of September included the Launching Ceremony, Clean Generation Panel Discussions, International Night by the Non-Citizen Staff Association, the Combined Independence Service, Interfaculty Debate Semi-Finals, Student Representative Senate Pageant, and the Pukman Katu Lecture Series on the eve of independence with former Lae MP Mr. Bart Philemon as the keynote speaker.
On Tuesday, the 16th, the university community gathered at the Monument for the flag-raising ceremony. Professor Maino made the official remarks, emphasizing the importance of celebrating independence despite the negativity and development challenges faced in the country through the years.
“We take time out today from our busy schedules and retire into deep reflection. There will emerge in our minds a picture, only a few in history will match. That is, we got granted our sovereignty without having physically fought for it. There were no bomb blasts, gutted infrastructure, bullet-holes on buildings, displaced human habitats, or ‘rivers’ of bloodshed and shredded ecosystems!”
“Our liberty is the outcome of visionary negotiation, deep understanding, and inner wisdom—the pearls of human exchanges for blessings of intrinsic value. This is a significant history worth celebrating!”
The flag-raising was followed by a tree-planting ceremony at the Independence Park, and continued with one of the major highlights of the celebrations—the SRS Cultural Show.
On Tuesday evening, more than 100 staff who had served the university for over 20 years were recognized for their commitment and received the Long-Serving Staff Awards.
This program concluded the Golden Jubilee independence celebrations at PNGUoT.