MP: Aim high

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

HENGANOFI MP Robert Atiyafa has challenged tertiary students in the district to aim for top places this year.

The challenge last Friday accompanied a school subsidy presentation at the Henganofi station in Eastern Highlands.

Atiyafa delivered cheques and other payment documents to more than 600 students from the district who qualified for assistance. 

Atiyafa, a university graduate, said he and other leaders like John Giheno, Norio Bianke and the late Viviso Seravo, had put Henganofi on the map during their time as leaders.

“It is now up to you. You must take this opportunity seriously,” he told the 600 students who gathered to receive their scholarships.

“You must do me and your parents proud. Always aim high and score good marks,” he said. 

Atiyafa, a one-time premier of Eastern Highlands, told the students that their counterparts from provinces like Enga, Southern Highlands and Hela had excelled in their studies because they had the backing, right mindset and attitude. 

“Don’t smoke marijuana, put on lipsticks and drink beer,” Atiyafa said.

“I will do my part, you do your part and stop showing off.”

Atiyafa, who is the chairman of the district’s Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee (JDP&BPC), said they had spent over K1.4 million to pay for students’ tuition fees.

“This is a lot of money but it is money well spent,” he said.

“I am investing in the future.”

The MP said another K2 million will be appropriated next year for the same programme if things worked well this year. 

Atiyafa, however, cautioned the people in the district that he will scrap the programme if they abused it.

Atiyafa warned parents, who gathered to witness the occasion, that if they got students from other districts and fraudulently enlisted them in the programme, he would cancel it.

There were 610 students enrolled in various universities, colleges and distance learning centres who had the parent component of their tuition fees paid.