Solomon Island national, Wilfred Loki says he couldn’t have made it through to graduation if it wasn’t for the enormous support he received from relatives and friends in Fiji.
The 25-year-old graduated last month with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Electrical)degree from Fiji National University’s College of Engineering, Science and Technology.
He was also awarded the Telecom Fiji Ltd (TFL) Topper CEST prize. Wilfred hopes to utilise his qualification and skills to assist install electricity in his village of Nela, Santa Cruz Islands in Temotu Province.
Wilfred attributed his success to his mum who has been his biggest inspiration since his father passed on when he was just three years old.
“I was compelled to study this course because I was brought up in a village where we did not have access to electricity,” Wilfred said
.”One of my aims, is to assist my people when I get home.” Wilfred said he would use his reward of $1000 prize money to pay his airfare back home.
“I have been away from home for four years now. I came to Fiji in 2019, the following year COVID-19 hit Fiji, and I have been here since.
“I am excited to go back and to see my mother.” During COVID-19, the regional student faced a lot of hardships, but he came on top through the support of his friends and family.
“Surviving in a foreign country is hard, but I stayed with my aunt, Rose Kitua and a friend of mine by the name of James paid for my fees in the final year,” Wilfred explained.
“With the money I was paid at attachment, I paid for my lunch and transport. University acting vice-chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba while commending Wilfred, said he was someone well positioned to make good decisions, and would contribute not only to his society but too the Pacific region too.
Wilfred’s advice to students is “keep working hard and never give up”.
