The Chief Secretary today officiated and delivered the keynote address at the Stakeholder Validation Workshop for the new Bachelor of Government (Public Administration) degree program at the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG) in Port Moresby.
Speaking at the workshop, the Chief Secretary acknowledged the leadership of SILAG, including Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Barobe, and praised the institute’s historic and ongoing contribution to public sector capacity building in Papua New Guinea.
The workshop marks a key step in SILAG’s transformation into the Somare Public Service University and in the development of a nationally accredited degree that will professionalise and strengthen the PNG public service.
“The Bachelor of Government is more than an academic program — it is a strategic response to the need for a public service that is professional, ethical and results-driven,” the Chief Secretary said.
Mr. Pomaleu highlighted that this degree will embed values-based leadership, align human capital development with our Medium-Term Development Plans and Vision 2050, and better link policy to implementation through practical placements and practitioner-led teaching.
The Chief Secretary has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to support SILAG’s transition and the new degree, announcing concrete areas of collaboration:
- Hosting work placements for students of the Bachelor of Government;
- Nominating experienced public servants to contribute to course delivery and mentoring;
- Partnering on research and policy development to strengthen the public sector.
Upon honouring the Bully Beef Club legacy, the Chief Secretary paid tribute to SILAG’s historical role as the birthplace of the Bully Beef Club, a 1960s intellectual movement that helped shape PNG’s path to independence.
He called for the Club’s legacy to be preserved and promoted through curriculum inclusion, public commemorations, media features and the institutionalisation of a national Bully Beef Seminar to inspire future leaders.
“SILAG stands on the shoulders of giants — the Bully Beef Club and our founding fathers who helped unite our diverse nation.
We must ensure younger Papua New Guineans understand this history and draw inspiration from the values of dialogue, unity and self-determination,’’ Mr Pomaleu said.
He further emphasized that successful validation of the Bachelor of Government requires the collective input of academics, practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders. Feedback from today’s workshop will inform the qualification structure, course content and pedagogical approach. SILAG and its partners will continue consultations and finalise arrangements for practical placements, guest lectures, and collaborative research.
The Chief Secretary urged the participants to view the workshop as the start of a long-term partnership to revive the leadership journey of PNG’s founders and to make the Somare Public Service Institute a regional beacon of excellence.
Authorized by:
IVAN POMALEU, OBE
Chief Secretary