FELIX LESINAIVALU
It was a privilege for Fiji National University student and Student Association vice-president, Shafiya Saheb to escort the Australian Minister for Foreign Marise Payne during her visit to the FNU Campus in Nasinu.
An excited but composed Ms Saheb, while describing her interaction, said, “We talked about empowering young women in the Pacific and how there is a young women’s initiative that is happening at FNU which encourages women part take in various activities for the school.” She said that having the opportunity to discuss with an eminent person who was very friendly and very interested in what the students were doing, their ambitions and their empowerment was motivating. “It is very encouraging to see people in high positions interested in what an ordinary student does.”
Ms Saheb escorted the Australian Minister and discussed the projects that are happening in FNU, including the new business classrooms and the disability centre. They also talked about how the Student Association and how it creates a platform for students to raise their voices and take action on issues they could be facing. Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar said given that FNU was Fiji’s national university, the Government hopes that the new Vuvale Partnership will assist the university to achieve what the Government expects from it. “Australia and Fiji enjoy a close and long relationship, reinforced at the beginning of 2019 by the signing of the new ‘Vuvale Partnership’ by our respective Prime Ministers.”
“This partnership signals a new era of cooperation based on mutual trust and respect and will focus Australian development support closely on what Fiji needs to achieve its bold development vision and plans.” Also present at the event was Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Ministry of Education’s permanent secretary Alison Burchell. Minister Payne said a conversation with the A-G in Canberra about the visions of FNU inspired to her to visit the university. She was delighted to see students having deep discussions and expressed her appreciation of the campus life atmosphere