By Benorah Carrie Hesehing in Wewak-ESP
The University of Goroka Sepik Campus (soon to be established as Somare University of Agriculture Rural Science & Technology or SUART) is ready to house 72 students on campus after the completion of two residential hall and a messing facility recently.
The Campus program Director, Mrs Lena Gibson told EMTV in an exclusive interview that the two residential hall was completed a bit earlier. However, they were not able to use it because they were still awaiting the PNG Power to inspect and approve for power connection.
Just before the inaugural graduation of the first cohort of 21 students, PNG Power visited the campus and inspected the facility and approve for power supply to be connected and delivered a generator for the power supply.
Mrs Gibson said this has put a smile on her face as it brushes away the challenges her administration faces in dealing with boarding and lodging issues.
She further extends her gratitude to the East Sepik Provincial Government and the Department of Higher Education, Research Science& Technology (DHERST) for the support in erecting the staff apartment, residential halls and dining mess facility which have given them confidence for them to do better in University’s policy to bring gowns to the villages.
The satisfied Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Goroka, Dr Mathew Landu who was present to witness and confer the graduates, shared similar appreciation to the stakeholders of the Sepik Campus.
Meanwhile, the Director General for the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Dr Nelson Simbiken who was the keynote speaker at the inaugural graduation said the national government had consecutively not included SUART in the national institution support.
Dr Simbiken challenged the government to consider fair support to UOG Sepik Campus just like it does to other government institution.
He further encouraged research station to partner with UOG in research in the field of agriculture. He says NARI is looking forward to working with UOG Sepik Campus and set up a research station in the near future.
The New staff residence apartment duplex and student residential hall are some of the infrastructural development at the new campus primarily funded by East Sepik Provincial Government and DHERST without any national government intervention.
