WHEN she walked up to receive her law degree during the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) 63rd graduation ceremony, she smiled and remembered that she’s now the second female from Central Province to have graduated with a law degree.
Priscilla Margaret Manu, who is part Ngella and Malaita, is proud of her achievement after she successfully completed her law studies.
Priscilla is among nine Solomon Islands students who graduated from UPNG last Friday in a colorful graduation staged at the Waigani campus forum square.
“I was raised by a Malaitan father who got married to a Ngella woman,” she said
“I was raised by both my father and mother and I spent most of my time in the Central Province.
“Being able to graduate this year with a Bachelor in Law makes me proud as well as my families on both my mum’s sand dad’s sides.”
She said her time at the UPNG for the past 5 years has now paid off and it is such a historic moment being just the second lady from the Central Province to have graduated with a law degree, though she was raised by a Malaitan father.
“The first Central Islander female who graduated as a lawyer is Irene Vaukei.
“Vaukei spent most of her time in Papua New Guinea.
“I am just the second female from the Central Province to have reached this level and I am proud of my commitment and achievement,” she said.
Priscilla said studying at UPNG for the past five years is not easy especially during 2016 when classes were suspended because of students’ protests.
She said home sick and adapting to a new environment surrounded by many cultures and customs is one of the many challenges she encountered for the past five years.
After completing her law degree, Priscilla now joins with other five law students from Solomon Islands who also graduated from the UPNG Law School doing their legal training at the Legal Training Institute (LTI) in Port Moresby.
In the meantime, Priscilla thanked the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) for the scholarship and her family for supporting her effort.
By BIRA’AU W. SAENI
in Auki
