MINISTER FOR POLICING HON. IOANE NAIVALURUA'S SPEECH AT THE 2025 FNU GRADUATION

Vice-Chancellor of Fiji National University, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba,
Chancellor and Chair of the FNU Council Mr Semesa Karavaki
Members of the University Council, Distinguished faculty and staff, Honoured guests,
Leaders and elders of our communities,
Proud parents, grandparents, guardians, and families,
And most importantly — graduating students of the Class of 2025 —
 
Ni sa bula vinaka, namaste, salaam alaykum, and a very warm Pacific greetings to you all.

It is a privilege and honour to stand before you today on this momentous occasion — a celebration of achievement, perseverance, and promise.
 
Before we honour the graduates themselves, let us first take a moment to recognise those whose love, sacrifice, and belief made this day possible — the families.
 
To the mothers and fathers who rose before the sun to prepare lunches and push their children toward dreams that once seemed distant...
 
To the grandparents who passed down stories of resilience and cultural pride, grounding these graduates in their identity…
 
To the aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, and even neighbours who lent a hand, an ear, or a word of encouragement — today, this achievement is also yours.
 
Vinaka vakalevu, dhanyavaad, and thank you. Your support, in all its forms, is the foundation of today’s success.

To the Graduands — the leaders of tomorrow — today is a chapter ending, but even more importantly, it is a new one beginning.
You made it.
 
You showed grit through sleepless nights, tight deadlines, power outages, bus delays, tropical storms, and — let’s be honest — a global pandemic that changed the world and the way we learn. You showed heart. You showed that nothing could stop you from finishing.
 
It’s one thing to start something; it’s another thing to finish it and finish it well. A finisher is determined to see things through, regardless of the difficulty or obstacles.
 
The journey of a finisher is often marked by perseverance in the face of adversity. It's about persisting when the path becomes hard, maintaining focus when distractions abound, and summoning your inner strength to navigate through the most challenging moments.
 
The finisher's spirit is deeply rooted in faith. It is a belief in oneself, one's abilities, and a higher power that guides and sustains us through life's challenges. This faith provides the foundation upon which the inner man is built, enabling graduates like you to begin, persevere, and finish.
 
As you step into your professional life, become champions of integrity, justice, and peace. Whether in classrooms, hospitals, boardrooms, or farms — your choices matter, your choices not only impact you but impact your family, your community and our nation. A safe and just society depends on everyday citizens who make good choices that uphold truth, fairness, and respect for one another.
 
Whether your journey started in the highlands of Naitasiri, the coral coast of Sigatoka, the hills of Labasa, the warmth of Rotuma, or across oceans from our Pacific neighbours — you brought with you your cultures, your languages, your aspirations. And today, you leave united not only as graduates of FNU, but as global citizens shaped by the Pacific spirit.
 
Take all you have been uniquely gifted with and all you have learned into the next challenge of life. As you rise into this next challenge, do so with the heart to bless. Bless your families, bless your nation and continue to aspire to become the best version of yourself.

But with every degree earned comes responsibility — not just to yourselves, but to the communities you belong to.
 
This region, our Blue Pacific, is full of promise — and challenges. Climate change, economic uncertainty, healthcare demands, transnational crimes, education gaps — they all need thinkers, creators, doers. The very people you have shown yourself to be.
 
As engineers, nurses, educators, agriculturalists, entrepreneurs, and creatives — you hold the keys to transform lives. And you don’t need to look overseas to make a difference. The Pacific needs you now more than ever.
 
Let your knowledge serve our people. Let your success uplift others. Let your voice shape policies, spark innovation, protect our oceans, and inspire the next generation of children in your village or town who will one day stand where you now stand.

If I may offer a small piece of advice — never underestimate your story.

The Pacific has always been a region of navigators — voyagers who crossed vast oceans with stars as their guide—people who saw an opportunity and came on a slim promise of something better.

You are modern-day navigators. You have navigated the first stages of learning, cultural shifts and social pressures. You are also a little older and a little wiser. Now, you must chart and set out on a new course led by ambition and purpose.
 
There will be moments of doubt, and moments of failure. But remember: resilience is part of our Fiji DNA. We come from ancestors who thrived against the odds. So will you.

Believe in your worth. Believe in your education. And never forget where you came from — for it will remind you where you’re going.

In closing, let today celebrate not only the degrees earned but the incredible potential unlocked.
 
To the Fiji National University, Madam Professor Unaisi — thank you for being a beacon of learning in this region.

To the Graduands — may you leave here proud, grounded, and unstoppable.
 
As you step forward into the world, do so not just with confidence but with compassion, not just with credentials but with character and truth.
 
So GRADUANDS, ……. Go forth and shine.

Vinaka vakalevu. Congratulations! And May God Bless You All.