Goroka varsity gets land to expand

THE land where the University of Goroka is loca­ted has been for the first time officially released by landowners.
Last Saturday, an official ceremony between the Okiufa and Asaroyufa tribes of the Humilaveka plateau (where the university is located) and the management of the university was conducted and witnessed by staff, students and local community. 
The ceremony entailed the two landowner groups apologising for past grievances against the university, its staff and students and then officially releasing the land for its development and future expansion for the good of the nation. 
This was communicated by elders from each tribe in the traditional manner. 
Certificates of release were signed by chair of the Okiufa Landowners’ As­sociation, Movis Api­te, and chair of the Asa­royufa Landowners’ As­sociation, Tony Yogi­yo, with the university Vice-Chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi.
Apite said the university was there to stay and Okiufa people should be proud of their history and of the fact that their lea­ders gave the land to the government. 
He said the two landowner groups must partner and collaborate with the university.
Yogiyo said “now is the time to unite, release and move forward” at UOG, adding that partnership and collaboration was great as UOG “is an important place to train people from all over PNG”. 
Yogiyo said the land­owner groups were only stewards of the land and “will be available to support the university in its endeavours”. 
Onagi, on behalf of the government, UOG council, staff, students, community and previous vice-chancellors, formally ac­cepted the apologies and release from the Okiufa and Asaroyufa tribes. 
“The development of UOG is for the country; we cannot progress into the future when hard feelings are present,” he said.
He said the ceremony was a symbolic way to end the past and to create a new beginning for partnership and collaboration with landowners groups for the good of the university.