It was a proud but bittersweet moment for Dr Peter Maima from Papua New Guinea, as he has just become the first male to graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy from the College of Business, Hospitality, and Tourism Studies at Fiji National University.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Dr Maima says he is dedicating his achievements to his family back in PNG as they were unable to make it to his graduation, but he is certain that they were watching him receive his doctorate live on the Fiji National University Facebook page.
Dr Maima says it was exciting to graduate with a doctorate after years of hard work, and he acknowledged the administration and professors who helped him along the way.
He had previously worked with the Department of Health in Papua New Guinea for over 20 years before deciding to pursue his doctorate at Fiji National University.
He says during his work, he had witnessed the deteriorating condition of the health sector and the low morale of the workforce, which inspired him to focus his research on addressing these issues.
When questioned about the challenges he faced, Dr Maima says he joined FNU in 2017 but had to return to Papua New Guinea during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was uncertain whether he would be able to return and continue his studies.
He says his wife encouraged him to have faith and revealed he had tears running down his face on the day he received a call from FNU informing him that he would be able to continue his studies.
He added that it was also difficult for him to be away from home, and the stress of his studies resulted in him being admitted twice to CWM Hospital.
He is currently working with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General as the Executive Director for Research back in Papua New Guinea.
He urges young people never to give up on their dreams, as they may not come true immediately, but they will bear fruit if they hold on to them.
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