SOLOMON Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Bernard Bata’anisia has praised a local student for helping his university establish a youth online debate website.
Tony Laugwaro, a third year information systems (IS) student at Divine Word University, was one of three students who with their lecturer initiated the idea of forming an electronically online debate forum, accessible to young people throughout PNG.
The website, which was officially launched on Sunday by PNG Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, is the first of its kind set up by a university in PNG, aimed at highlighting issues which are of great concern to PNG and other Pacific Island countries.
Speaking after the launching, Mr Bata’anisia thanked Mr Laugwaro for being a good ambassador and doing the nation proud in involving in something worthwhile.
“You have led the way and shown our younger students they too can do it. They too can lead and they too can stand out for their university and help in its developments,” he said.
Mr Bata’anisia congratulated Divine Word University in successfully launching its debate website, adding that he sees it as a means of getting messages across to young people around PNG on important issues such as HIV/Aids.
Mr Laugwaro, meanwhile, said he was happy to be part of a group of students who’ve helped in creating history for the University.
“I didn’t think that our idea in forming a debate society online would be taken up by the University and officially launched by the Prime Minister of PNG,” he said.
“Also never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d be meeting and chatting with Sir Michael Somare. But now I finally did,” a smiling Mr Laugwaro said.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
in Madang, PNG
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