The Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG) made history with a total of ten Government Departmental Head and Heads of Agencies graduate on Friday 14th April under the flagship program, Advanced Diploma of Government Leadership and Management.
This included the Acting Secretary for Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology, Dr. Francis Hualupmomi, Secretary of Constitutional and Law Reform Commission, Dr. Mange Matui, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PNG Research, Science and Technology Secretariat, Dr. Kulala Mulung, Director General for National Youth Development Authority, Mr. Joe Itaki, Managing Director of PNG Forest Authority, Mr. John Mosoro, and Chief Censor of the Office of Censorship, Mr. Jim Abani.
Also present was the only female graduating under this program, Acting Director of Legal Training Institute, Angeline Paranda, as well as the CEO of PILAG itself, Mr. Michael Barobe.
This year’s graduation will also be the last time the institution will carry the name PILAG as it will now be transformed to Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PILAG, Mr. Michael Barobe, whilst speaking at the occasion stated that PILAG’s business of providing quality public sector workforce development program is well aligned to the development plan of the country. Therefore, training these public servants is crucial for the workforce.
“We have a high success rate of public servants training and in every year it gradually increases.”
Barobe stressed that they plan on ensuring that PNG public servants are systematically trained and appointed on public sector.
Meanwhile, Barobe thanked the sponsors and partners of whom have been working side by side with PILAG in creating leadership programs for the trainees. In addition to this special occasion, Public Service Minister, Joe Sungi also congratulated and commended the graduates from both the public and private sector for a job well done in pursuing to further their studies at PILAG.
Whilst commending them for their efforts, Sungi also highlighted some of the issues of a public sector and the importance of the value behind going for further studies especially at PILAG.
“There are some big areas in which I found lacking in the public sector and for one is that most of us in the leadership and management role are not spending time with our subordinates”
“Your job as a public servant is to groom up the next person who will take over from you. The position you have now will not be yours forever.”
Sungi challenged the graduates to always be committed and to be competent in what they do in order to perform well what is required of them.
“Learn what you have to offer so that when you go back to the organization that you work for, you can put it to good use.”
Meanwhile, the theme for this year’s 5th graduation was “Training Champions with Purpose and Integrity.”
A total of 388 graduates from last year’s batch flew in from around the country to attain their certificates, diplomas and PHDs.