Ramu NiCo Management Limited (RNML) has congratulated a recently graduated student from Divine Word University and 4 other students that will graduate in the coming months from various tertiary institutions across Papua New Guinea under its School Fee Assistance Program.
The initiative coordinated by the Mine’s Community Affairs Department and the four Landowner Association Committees along the Nickel and Cobalt project corridor, continues to support rural students in accessing higher education for the human development for Usino Bundi District in Madang Province.
Over the years, the program has enabled students to study at leading institutions including the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, University of Papua New Guinea, Divine Word University, Don Bosco Technical Institute, and the University of Goroka.
As the only corporate organization operating in Madang’s mining sector, Ramu NiCo has funded these opportunities through its Community Development Fund (CDF), ensuring benefits beyond annual royalty payouts.
One of the recently graduated students, Mr. Vincent Tambure from Usino Bundi District, received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Divine Word University on March 6.
Mr Tambure expressed his gratitude to Ramu NiCo for the tuition support and industrial training opportunities that made his studies possible.
“My achievement is a testament to the company’s corporate and social responsibility. It reflects the true meaning of ‘One Ramu NiCo, One Community,’” he said.
Community Affairs Supervisor Mr. David Kurame emphasized that the program is fully funded through the CDF, with allocations made annually to the four landowner associations. He noted that Vincent’s success story demonstrates the lasting impact of the initiative.
“Vincent comes from a remote village where his parents could not afford tuition. Through our program, he was able to continue his studies and complete his degree,” Mr. Kurame said.
Ramu NiCo and its landowner associations remain committed to building human capacity through education, health, agriculture, business and employment programs ensuring communities benefit long after the mining operations.
Mr Kurame said Mr Tambure is one of the successful students that has truly showed his appreciation to Ramu NiCo.
“Vincent comes from a remote village in Bundi where his parents cannot financially support his education at Divine Word University and had to withdraw from his study’s countless times. In 2023, he was recognized for an industrial training program under RNML’s Corporate Office and from there everything changed for him,” Mr Kurame said.
The guarantee for tuition fee program for Ramu NiCo comes from its four-project landowner association and is presented to the mine and the mine deducts from the 4 associations annual CDF budget annually.
