From a proud USP triple gold medallist with a deep passion to uplift communities through technology, Penioni Narube has been awarded the Fijian NXG Scholarship to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.
Narube, a triple gold medalist from the University of the South Pacific, will undertake a 12-month Master of Science in Management of Technology programme, with the scholarship valued at $562,000.
Speaking during the event, Narube thanked Software Factory Limited for awarding him the full scholarship, which will cover tuition, housing and other costs for him and his family while he studies at MIT in Boston.
He says he is grateful to the company’s board of directors for supporting his educational journey at one of the world’s leading technology institutions.
He says he is looking forward to gaining new knowledge and exposure in technology and innovation at MIT.
Narube also highlighted his passion for developing technology that creates real benefits for people, particularly through Sole FinTech, which focuses on improving access to financial services for all Fijians, including those in rural and maritime areas.
He says after completing his studies, he hopes to bring back the knowledge and experience gained at MIT to help further develop Fiji through technology.
He is also encouraging young Fijians to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams, saying Fiji has many talented people capable of achieving great things
Software Factory and Sole founder Semi Tukana says the scholarship is an investment in the future of technology and artificial intelligence as industries around the world continue to rapidly evolve.
He says sectors such as software development, banking and finance, education, healthcare and communications are expected to change significantly within the next three to five years because of AI.
He says the company is heavily investing in preparing staff for the changing technology landscape and highlighted Narube’s major contributions to systems developed for organisations including the South Pacific Stock Exchange, the iTaukei Land Trust Board, Fijian Holdings Unit Trust and Fiji Pine Limited.
He also praised Narube’s leadership in helping build the Sole SuperApp platform in just two months in 2022.
Tukana revealed that he immediately agreed to support Narube’s MIT application despite later learning the scholarship would cost more than half a million dollars.
He thanked the company’s board of directors for supporting the decision, saying the future of the company depends on gaining world-class expertise in information technology and artificial intelligence.
