Author: Manaini Rokotuivuna

Professor Chang Visits Tui Ba

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sushila Chang, as part of University’s commitment towards communities, visited Tui Ba, Ratu Filimoni Lagivola Nale on Tuesday, November 24, 2019.

The strategic plan 2017-2021 places high emphasis on forging and maintaining good community relations.

35 students from ITK302 course- Vanua, Land and the People; together with Centre for iTaukei Studies Director, Mr. Usaia Gaunavou and Lecturer, Ms. Salome Rokuta accompanied Professor Chang to the visit.

The staff and students presented Sevusevu to Tui Ba. Professor Chang then took the floor and mentioned about herself and paid respects to Tui Ba.

She noted that she loved the country of Fiji and its people. She also spoke about the University’s upcoming programmes and how it could help fill the void in the community.

She further elaborated that the UniFiji would be grateful if they could help out the communities in any way possible and suggested that there be an ongoing dialogue between the leaders of the Ba community and The University of Fiji on potential collaborations. Professor Chang also invited the Tui and the Village leaders to the visit the University.

Tui Ba, Ratu Filimoni Lagivola Nale accepted the Sevusevu and thanked the staff and students for coming to visit him. He strongly suggested that he and his community fully support UniFiji and are willing to collaborate.

The students had the opportunity to introduce themselves to Tui and participate in the ceremony. These students were mostly from Suva and other Islands and their traditions differed in many ways from the traditions practiced in Ba.

Ms. Rokuta said that it was an impeccable opportunity for the students to learn from Tui Ba.

The University expresses its gratitude to Tui Ba and the Village Headmen for welcoming the staff and students so graciously into their community.