| Margaret Nakikus | |
| Birth Place: | Matupit, Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea (PNG) |
| Death Date: | 1992 |
| Nationality: | Papua New Guinean |
| Occupation: | Government planner |
| Known For: | Wife of PNG prime minister Rabbie Namaliu |
| Children: | One daughter and two sons |
Margaret Nakikus (died 1992) was the first Papua New Guinean woman to head that country's National Planning Office. She is also known as the wife of Rabbie Namaliu, who was Papua New Guinea's prime minister between 1988 and 1992.
Margaret Latatuai Nakikus came from Matupit, near Rabaul in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Overcoming the reluctance of her parents to let her leave, she left home in the early 1970s to attend the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, becoming one of the first female graduates of that university.[1]
Little information is available about the early career of Nakikus. She produced several publications and made presentations at conferences in the Pacific Islands. Her early research interest seems to have been focused on migration, particularly on resettlement schemes in PNG that involved moving people from the Highlands Region to coastal and island locations to cultivate oil palm.
Nakikus was the first Papua New Guinean woman to head the country's National Planning Office.[2] [3] 1990 was designated by UNESCO as International Literacy Year (ILY). This coincided with the initiation of PNG's Literacy and Awareness Programme and Nakikus chaired the national ILY committee.[4]
Nakikus had her daughter Joy in 1971. Nakikus married the politician Rabbie Namaliu in 1987. They had two sons, Isaac and Langanai (Rabbie Jnr). Namaliu was prime minister from July 1988 until July 1992. After his defeat in parliament in 1992 he left politics to be with Nakikus, who had incurable leukaemia and was in hospital in Brisbane, Australia. She died in 1992.[5] After her death their daughter was looked after by Mekere Morauta, who would also become prime minister, and his wife.[6]