Jekope Maiono has achieved an impressive milestone by securing four prestigious degrees from the University of Otago in New Zealand. At 45 years old and originally from Cikobia, Jekope has gone on to become a lecturer at the same university where he pursued his studies after moving to New Zealand in 2006 for sports.
Having played for the Rewa team and Tailevu Knights, Jekope has also received an opportunity to further his career in New Zealand. His educational journey encompassed obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce in Management, a Master of Sustainable Business, a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences, and a Doctorate in Philosophy focusing on ‘Sustainable Land Development in Fiji.’
In 2020, he initiated his PhD program, which centers around a significant research project entitled “50 Years of Independence: Indigenous Perception on Sustainable Land Development in Fiji,” aiming to assess land use practices in Fiji after five decades of independence.
Jekope emphasizes the importance of revisiting the practices of land utilization and gathering insights from local communities to shape the future of their land management. He believes there is a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding effective land use, especially when it comes to policies governing the ownership and utilization of land.
He has highlighted two major focuses in his research: the indigenous ecological perspective of land use and the political aspects influencing it. Additionally, he plans to conduct research on Cicia, referred to as the “Organic Island.”
Currently, Jekope is actively working as a business lecturer at the University of Otago while aiming to bring awareness to the challenges faced by indigenous people in land utilization. His research aims to create pathways for better land management in collaboration with local communities.
In his reflections, Jekope has urged the community to consider what the future may hold for land use in the next 50 years, stressing the ongoing significance of both environmental sustainability and community leadership in these discussions.