PNGUoT Signs Alumnus Justin Olam as First Ambassador
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 14th of March with alumnus and former rugby league star Justin Olam, appointing him as the institution’s first-ever University Ambassador.
Vice Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi expressed his gratitude that Mr. Olam accepted the invitation, and explained that this partnership represents a new chapter for the university as it seeks to represent itself on the world stage for the first time through an official ambassador.
Professor Renagi said that while this is a historic milestone, the MOU is established for an initial one-year period. This pilot timeframe will allow the university to evaluate the effectiveness of the role before deciding whether to extend the partnership for longer periods.
“This is PNGUoT’s first time to sign an MOU with an Ambassador,” Prof. Renagi stated. “Mr. Olam has created history by becoming the first ambassador for PNGUoT.”
Accepting the role, Mr. Olam thanked the Vice Chancellor and the university team for the vision behind the initiative. He expressed his commitment to the position, stating his desire to contribute in any way possible to bring PNGUoT into the future and strengthen its partnerships.
“I am really humbled, and I appreciate the opportunity to represent all of you. I will try my best to be the best ambassador for the university,” Olam told those in attendance.
This agreement formalizes Mr. Olam’s appointment to promote education, inspire youth, and enhance the national and international profile of the university as an alumnus of the institution.
PNGUoT served as the training ground for Justin Olam’s launch into professional rugby league, where he began playing seriously in 2012 while studying for a Bachelor of Applied Physics in Electronics and Instrumentation.
He played in the University Competition for the Unitech Spartans and the Applied Physics team’s AP Photons, and on to the Lae Snax Tigers team also while still studying. His rugby league career progressed after graduating when he went on to play for the Hunters, Sunshine Coast Falcons and onto the Melbourne Storm. He went on to sign a contract to play with the Wests Tigers, and retired last year due to an injury, after almost 13 years of playing rugby league professionally.
Collectively he has played more than one hundred NRL games and has also proudly represented PNG in the PNG Kumuls.
PNGUoT students and staff were delighted to have Mr Olam return to campus after ten years, where his name is synonymous with Unitech rugby. During his two-day visit to PNGUoT on the 13th and 14th of March, Olam shared his experience juggling studies and rugby league, offering a message focused on character and personal identity.
“This is where you shape who you are to become as a person. You cannot go out into the real world and start to work on your attitude.” He urged the students to focus on their character and spiritual growth as the true drivers of their future success and challenged the next generation of professionals to not go into society simply to “be a statistic,” but to instead work on themselves to reach their full potential.
The MOU signing took place at the New Dining Hall at the Taraka campus, concluding the visit.
Justin Olam’s visit and appointment as the PNGUoT Ambassador serves as a strong reminder that universities not only produce graduates, but also shape character and leadership.
