Envoy helps establish Solomons-PNG alumni group

By STARZA PAUL
THE Papua New Guinea High Commission in the Solomon Islands helped establish the Solomon Islands-PNG Alumni Association last Wednesday in Honiara.
The organisation’s membership is drawn from Solomon Islanders who have graduated from universities and colleges in PNG.
Launching the alumni, High Commissioner Brian Yombon-Copio said it would provide value and allow its members to maintain contact, develop new professional network, establish new relationships and business connections, keep abreast of latest professional trends and developments and mentor undergraduate students.
“Papua New Guinea has produced some of the prominent people in the public and private sectors in Solomon Islands and is proud of its prominence in providing quality education to people of the country as well as other South Pacific countries.”
More than 20 past students of universities and colleges in Papua New Guinea met at the Commonwealth Conference Centre in Kukum, Honiara, and  elected office bearers of the association.
Those elected include Leslie Kwaega (president), Joseph Maelaua (vice president), ChelmaTauku (secretary) and Jeffrey Mekab (treasurer).
Kwaega said it was timely the association had been formed.
“Such an organisation should have been established a long time ago because of the important relationship of the two countries,” he said.
He commended Yombon-Copio for initiating the establishment of the Solomon Islands/PNG Alumni Association.
Kwaega said the organisation was for Solomon Islanders and not for Papua New Guineans and invited all graduates of PNG universities and colleges to join and contribute to realising the primary objectives of the organisation.