Members of FNU’s Senior Leadership Team and Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration with Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba and PS Mason Smith (seated) at the MOU signing

The Fiji National University (FNU) signed a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Home Affairs in an effort to tackle the nation’s growing drug and human trafficking issue.

Speaking at the MoU signing the FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said that the agreement signifies a strategic alliance and a commitment to collaborative action to ensure a secure and prosperous Fiji.

“This MOU formalises our shared vision, outlining a framework for cooperation in research and development, policy analysis and critique, and scientific exploration within the realm of national security,” highlighted the Vice-Chancellor.

“This collaboration will be instrumental in supporting the Ministry’s development of critical defence and national security policies.”

She added that the collaboration aligns perfectly with FNU’s 2024–2026 Strategic Plan, which emphasises research with real-world impact, aligned with national priorities, and with global relevance.

Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Immigration, Mason Smith, said that the signing of the MoU marks a milestone in the effort of capacity building in the ministry as well as the arms of the ministry given the many challenges they face on various fronts.

“As you will see from the purpose of the MoU, it is to enhance collaboration and cooperation between our entities. We continue to lose skilled workers to regional countries including Australia and New Zealand,” said the Permanent Secretary.

“There is a need to train and produce more skilled workers in all sectors of our society so that we do not bring in skilled workers from overseas to take over from our citizens.”

He expressed his optimism by saying he does not doubt that the MoU will go a long way in addressing some of the ministry’s training needs and he looks forward to the first cohort of students from the ministry that will join FNU to further their education and training.

“It is my intention to reach out to academia to seek your input and expertise as we draft and review policy issues that affect the safety and security of our citizens,” revealed Smith.

He highlighted that the ministry is focusing on the war on drugs, where they have consulted widely, and they will continue consulting FNU in the ministry’s bid to train those that will be at the forefront of the war against drugs.

Smith revealed that while the ministry lacks the resources to curb human trafficking, they are looking forward to FNU providing capacity building for Fijian Defense force members.