Leader Nigel pursuing degree in South Korea

By LIBERT SANGUNDI
NIGEL Totona, 27, who from a young age, loved to be given leadership roles either in church or school, is currently on a scholarship to pursue a Masters in Global Management and Leadership programme at the Handong University in South Korea.
“I like to take the lead in any assigned work since I was a little boy. It was not like I wanted to be a role model to others, but I tried my best to do whatever work that is required by our (Madang Four Square Church) youth leader or pastor. I grew up in a church environment and everything I leant there was about doing good deeds and commitment.”
But the most important lesson he learnt while growing up was to be obedient to his parents.
“My mum would tell me: Nigel, you go and clean the church and God will bless you. I believed her words and gladly went to the church compound to rake the rubbish or weed when I was free.”
And today, he is reaping the reward. Nigel, 27, born and raised in Madang when his parents were working there, is the youngest in a family of two brothers and a sister. Their dad is from Central and mother from Northern.
He still looks up to older siblings as his role models.
“They encouraged me to join the church music group. I eventually joined and was actively involved in it throughout my school life until l left for overseas studies.’’
In the church, he took up leadership roles in the youth group and scripture union while still in school doing Grade Seven to Grade 10.
After Grade 10 at Tusbab, he completed Grade 11 and Grade 12 at the Aiyura National High School where he was school president from 2014 to 2015.
At the Divine Word University, he held various leadership roles, culminating in the position of school representative council secretary in his final year.

“ I like to take the lead in any assigned work since I was a little boy. It was like I wanted to be a role model to others, but I tried my best to do whatever work that is required by our (Madang Four Square Church) youth leader or pastor”

In 2021, he won a pageant contest and was crowned Mister Madang. He participated in non-profitable organisation activities to helping communities in Madang province, and raised funds for charitable causes.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Business management degree at the Divine Word University in 2021 in Madang, and worked as a tutor there until the middle of last year when he was offered the scholarship to study in South Korea.
Nigel has been visiting other countries as part of a 15-member research group led by a South Korean professor. They visited Italy where he attended the Research Conference Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers in December. He presented their research on the data-driven approach to predict the impact on rural tourism of social media – the correlation between YouTube views, and United Nation World Tourism Organisation website and the impact of tourism on an economy in regards to views on videos and images taken and generated on those sites.
The group also visited Tokyo in Japan to present a research paper. Also in the group is fellow Papua New Guinean Kamuna Kipa, a tutor at the University of PNG who is also doing a Masters degree in South Korea.
Nigel wants to see more young people do things for themselves rather than waiting for the Government to do it for them.
Nigel also believes that PNG needs leaders who can drive the development aspiration of people in a more transparent way.
“Young leaders must be equipped with ethical standards by practising good leadership qualities in their own communities, schools, churches or workplace.”
His advice to young men and women is to “stand up for what is right and lead the way, while saying no to corruption”.
“Set your goals and work hard to achieve them. All things are possible. List down things you want to accomplish in life and then pray for them. Believe in God and believe in yourself. Respect others, read good books and make good decisions that will lead you closer to Christ who is the source of life.”