The Fiji National University (FNU) officially opened its FNU Foundation Hub at its Labasa Campus today, marking the first Foundation Hub in the Northern Division and strengthening the Foundation’s commitment to expanding opportunities and support for students and staff across Vanua Levu.
Chief guest and Permanent Secretary for National Planning, Development and Statistics, Mr Peni Sikivou officially launched the FNU Foundation Northern Hub.
Chief Guest, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Mr Peni Sikivou, said the opening of the Hub was about opening doors for students and families.
“It is about ensuring that every capable young Fijian, has the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of where they live or the financial challenges they may face,” said Mr Sikivou.
He added that the opening of FNU’s Foundation Northern Hub was an important milestone in the journey towards a more inclusive and equitable Fiji.
“As a Government, we recognise that lasting national development is built through partnership. It is achieved when Government, our institutions, communities, businesses and development partners work together, to create opportunities that improve people’s lives.”
“That is especially important here in Vanua Levu, where we continue to see tremendous potential, resilience and ambition. Investing in education is one of the smartest and most important investments any nation can make. A stronger economy begins with a skilled workforce. Stronger communities begin with educated and empowered citizens,” Mr Sikivou elaborated.
The Fiji National University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba delivered a speech.
FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, emphasised that while the Foundation is the University’s philanthropic arm, philanthropy is much more than fundraising.
“It is about shared responsibility. It is about people who choose to invest in the future of others. Through the Foundation, we are able to support scholarships and student assistance, improve learning facilities, strengthen research and innovation, and respond to the needs of our communities in ways that complement the University’s core mission,” Professor Nabobo-Baba emphasised.
She further stated that when the Foundation grows, so does the University’s responsibility, adding that the success of the Hub will not be measured by the office opened today.
“Every contribution entrusted to us must be managed with integrity, transparency and accountability. The strength of the Foundation will not only be measured by the resources it attracts, but by the trust it earns and the difference it makes in the lives of our students and communities.”
“It will be measured by the student who remains at university because support arrived at the right time, by the young person from a rural or maritime community whose future is changed through education, and by the partnerships that continue to create lasting benefits for our people,” Professor Nabobo-Baba explained.
FNU Foundation Executive Director, Mr Kanito Lovobalavu welcomed the guests at the opening of the Hub.
The Executive Director of the FNU Foundation, Mr Kanito Lovobalavu, said that the Foundation was built entirely on community support, belief and partnership.
“We have proudly walked alongside more than 2000 students, helping to ease their burdens so they can focus on their futures. That chapter of impact wouldn’t be possible without those who believed in the vision from the very beginning,” Mr Lovobalavu shared.
The Executive Director added that FNU Foundation’s mission reaches out to the essential staff who go above and beyond to meet the growing needs of the rapidly developing university.
“I have seen what it means when distance and circumstances stand in the way of potential. That is why witnessing the continuous development of learning facilities here and officially opening the doors of the hub today, we are bringing resources closer to home, rewriting the narrative for our students, and ensuring that where you come from never dictates how far you can go,” said Mr Lovobalavu.
The Northern Hub is the fifth FNU Foundation Hub established across Fiji and marks an important milestone in the Foundation’s efforts to ensure that opportunities and support are accessible to students, regardless of geography.
Apart from the students, the Hub also supports FNU staff through its core initiatives, the Coffee Forward Initiative, the Veilomani Closet and Food Pantry, and targeted assistance during critical periods of the academic calendar, including scholarships.
It also provides a platform for alumni, traditional leaders, businesses, faith communities, development partners and friends of FNU to work alongside the University in supporting students and strengthening communities across the Northern Division.
As the Foundation continues to grow, the Hub will serve as an important avenue for connecting resources, partnerships and opportunities with those who need them most, helping students pursue their education and contributing to stronger and more resilient communities across the Northern Division.
ENDS