UNG Rector Recognised for Developing the Tomini Bay Region
Gorontalo (ANTARA) – Gorontalo State University (UNG) Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Eduart Wolok, ST, MT, was among the recipients of the 2026 Mandaya Award, presented by Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar. The award recognised his success in developing community empowerment in the Tomini Bay region.
The rector said UNG received the award as an Inspirational Campus for Community Empowerment, reflecting its commitment to promoting community empowerment and developing the Tomini Bay region.
“Thank God, our commitment has been recognised by the central government through this award,” Eduart said in a telephone interview from Gorontalo on Tuesday, after receiving the award in Jakarta.
The award recognises UNG’s dedication and commitment to making higher education an engine of community empowerment, particularly in the coastal areas of Tomini Bay.
In this context, UNG seeks to act as a catalyst, linking academic capacity with the development needs of local communities.
The commitment is aligned with UNG’s vision of becoming “The Engine of Tomini Bay”, which makes the region’s development one of the university’s strategic priorities.
Through this vision, Eduart said, UNG encourages its academic community to help develop the region’s potential sustainably and deliver tangible benefits to the public, especially coastal communities.
He expressed gratitude for the recognition from the central government.
Eduart said the award was not merely a symbol of institutional achievement, but recognition of the collective efforts of the entire UNG academic community to support improvements in public welfare.
The development of the Tomini Bay region, he said, depended on the collective commitment of every part of the university.
Empowerment of coastal communities must continue to be promoted so local potential can generate added value, create economic development opportunities, and support regional and national development.
The award will motivate UNG to strengthen its contribution to community development.
“By prioritising the role of higher education, research, innovation and collaboration, UNG is committed to delivering benefits that respond to the needs of communities in the Tomini Bay region,” Eduart said.
UNG remains committed to contributing to sustainable and inclusive regional development.
He said recognition through the 2026 Mandaya Awards served as a reminder that a university’s success is measured not only by its academic achievements, but also by its contribution to driving change and improving public welfare.