Late Iambakey Okuk's Family in USA

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PNG's "most colorful and controversial politician" Sir Iambakey Okuk died in 1986 but his legacy will live forever throughout ages.
Okuk was a popular political figure in PNG. Described by many as the man with 7 brains, his name lives forever in the history books of this great nation.
Okuk was the mastermind behind what is now the Air Niugini Airlines, the famous highlands highway, RamuAgriSugar and a few other Orginazations still existing today.
Iambakey Okuk was one of the greatest minds and leader in PNG. He served as Deputy Prime Minister, the nation's first Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, and repeatedly in the capacity of Minister of Transport, Minister of Primary Industries and Opposition Leader. He is known as PNG's "most colorful and controversial politician".
Iambakey first led protests against unfair labor practices, and then once elected to office, worked to reserve sectors of the economy for citizens as a method of returning a complex economic role to Papua New Guineans.
In the post-independence decade, Iambakey built a coalition of minority political factions which forced the successful change of government, in which he became Deputy Prime Minister.
Okuk was raised in Mt Hagen but he contested elections in Wabag, Simbu, and then Ungai Bena in Eastern Highlands during his active years. This made him the most popular political figure in the history of PNG.
During his glory days, he married American Lecturer Lizabeth Ryder. Lizabeth is the mother of Okuk's last daughter( her only) Niki Okuk. Behind every successful man, there is always a strong woman and in this case Okuk gets all the glory but Lizabeth was the mastermind behind Okuk's political career.
Okuk was a smart talker, Lizabeth was a great thinker, together they had great plans and visions for PNG and worked together with the rest of our founding fathers.
If Okuk was still alive, this nation would have seen greater changes in terms of development. Lizabeth a very faithful Christian from USA was the advisor of her husband Okuk and they aimed for Prime Ministership. They planned to develop PNG into a greater nation. Unfortunately Okuk's life was short lived when he died from liver cancer in 1986. His legacy remains forever.
Lizabeth Ryder and daughter Niki Okuk left for US after Okuk's death. Lizabeth has never married. The 65 years old is presently a Lecturer at California State University in Los Angeles. She has been teaching in various State Universities in USA ever since.
Daughter Niki Okuk grew up in Los Angeles and majored in economics at Columbia University. After working in development with the office of Joseph Stiglitz and working in finance in Korea and Singapore, Okuk completed her MBA with Nanyang University in Singapore, including a sustainability certificate at Sloan School of Business at MIT.
She is currently working to create social and economic justice and worker dignity in California, USA. She believes that when workers own companies, the economy is more resilient. Her objective is to create more worker owned businesses in USA.
Niki Okuk founded Rco Tires in 2012. They've since recycled more than 300 million pounds of rubber, diverting 70 million gallons of oil from landfills with 16 employees, making it one of southern California's largest sustainability plants. Rco creates alternative uses for trash tires, turning them into new products. Because of Okuk's progressive hiring and management practices, it provides stable jobs for local black and Latino residents who struggle to find employment because of past criminal convictions or legal status.
Niki is a very proud Papua New Guinean breaking barriers and making headlines in the US. She travels all over the world but home town Kundiawa is her favourite destination. She often travels to PNG bringing gifts from USA to her Gembogolg people in Chimbu Province.
She recently visited PNG in October 2018 and before that was in September 2016.
Niki is an inspirational PNG women representing PNG at the world stage. She is touching the hearts and lives making differences in the lives of many individuals in America and Papuan New Guinea.

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