His Excellency the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, warmly welcomed the Vanuabalavu Primary School Athletics team to the State House yesterday.
The visiting group included 34 students along with 14 teachers and parents.
His Excellency spent time engaging with the students, asking about their recent athletics competition and encouraging them to think about their future aspirations. He highlighted the importance of setting goals and mapping out a clear vision for their lives, reminding them that their dreams begin with the choices they make now.
President Naiqama also shared the special traditional connection between Vanuabalavu and Cakaudrove, acknowledging the cultural ties that bind the communities.
He then offered the students a brief history of the State House, noting that the iconic building—now 97 years old—is one of Fiji’s most significant surviving colonial structures. He explained that despite the need for ongoing maintenance, the State House continues to stand as a symbol of leadership and national heritage.
His Excellency also shared that he is the seventh President of Fiji to reside in the historic home.
During the visit, the students and their delegation presented a Po Lotu, a distinctive form of hymn singing unique to Lau, performed with a metal instrument such as a triangle or a pair of spoons. Their performance reflected the rich cultural identity of their home islands.
The team hails from the villages of Avea, Mavana, Moalevu, Daliconi, Boitaci, Lomaloma, Sawana, Malaka, Susui, Narocivu, Uruone, Mago Island, and Daukuilomaloma in Vanuabalavu, part of the Lau Group.
Following the traditional ceremony and exchanges, the group was given a guided tour of the Presidential Residence, offering the students a unique opportunity to learn more about Fiji’s national history and leadership.