Building a Brighter Future with Books and Education

At IBSUniversity, our vision to enrich lives through world-class education, training, and research extends beyond the lecture rooms. We work to nurture future leaders with a strong sense of responsibility toward community development. This vision came to life through a recent initiative by the School of Accounting and Finance Student Association (SAFSA), which successfully hosted a book drive campaign for 2025 on April 3, 2025.

IBSUniversity, led by the visions of Founder Sir Mick Nades, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ramachandran Arunachalam, and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Mr. Jobin Scaria, continues to support initiatives that inspire students, encourage original thinking, and strengthen the kind of leadership Papua New Guinea needs to move forward.

Nonetheless, the event became a reality through the collective efforts of Dr. Rengalwar Srinivasan, Head of the School of Accounting and Finance, along with Senior Lecturer Dr. Thirumal Raman and SAFSA Coordinator Mr. Manikandan Sathyamoorthy, the SAFSA student leadership team—including President Mr. Gakena Martin, Vice President Ms. Hughleyne Tapend, and other executives. The occasion also featured Ms. Joyce Jerry, IBSU Student Life Coordinator, as the guest speaker.

The inaugural book drive took place at Evedahana Primary School, located just 2 kilometers from IBSUniversity at 9 Mile, opposite the 9 mile cemetery. As part of SAFSA’s ongoing mission, 496 books were generously donated to the school, benefiting over 2,000 students. The donation was made possible through a partnership with Books for PNG Kids, a charity based in Salisbury, Australia, and supported by the Department of Justice and Attorney General, Papua New Guinea.

Evedahana Primary School, which recently expanded to include junior high grades 9 and 10, provides primary and junior high education to a wide-ranging student body. Mr. Tongi, a senior teacher at Evedahana Primary School, delivered the welcome address. SAFSA President Mr. Gakena Martin, a final-year Accounting and Finance student, shared the associations and the university’s passion for education, stating, “At IBSUniversity, we believe in the role of education; it has the potential to influence the future of Papua New Guinea.” This statement strongly supports the drive’s purpose—to encourage a love for reading and learning among primary students.

A memorable moment during the event was the appearance of Josephine Lape, a former Evedahana student now in her final year of the Accounting and Finance program at IBSUniversity. Josephine shared her journey, reflected on her time at Evedahana Primary, and encouraged students to borrow more books from the school library and make reading a habit.
Adding to the motivation, Ms. Victoria Kiroha, a second-year Accounting and Finance student, delivered an uplifting message that urged the students to pursue their education with passion and determination.

A lively Q&A session followed, with students enthusiastically responding to questions and receiving books as prizes. In her speech, guest speaker Ms. Joyce Jerry highlighted the event’s theme: “The more you read, the more you succeed.” She invited the students to repeat the phrase multiple times, with the aim of making it stick in their minds.

Mr. Tyran Parau, a fellow student in the Accounting and Finance program, delivered the final words.

Through its ongoing connection with local communities, IBSUniversity is guiding future leaders to develop the mindset needed to think creatively and offer practical, forward-thinking solutions.

IBSU Marketing Department