FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba with the Fiji Corrections Service Acting Commissioner Salote Panapasa with the Memorandum of Understanding.
It was a revolutionary step forward in Fiji’s educational landscape, as Fiji National University’s National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC) and the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) came together to formalise a groundbreaking partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at FNU’s Nasinu Campus.
The MOU will empower and educate corrections officers and inmates serving their sentences at corrections facilities nationwide.
Speaking at the momentous occasion, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, the Vice-Chancellor of Fiji National University, expressed profound gratitude and excitement.
“The objectives of this MOU are clear and noble, to train and develop the staff of the Fiji Corrections Services, ensuring their competency and enhancing their productivity, and to upskill our inmates, providing them with the tools and opportunities to become productive members of society,” stated Professor Nabobo-Baba.
“These objectives speak volumes about our commitment to rehabilitation, to second chances, and to the belief that every individual has the potential to contribute positively to society.”
Professor Nabobo-Baba emphasised that FNU is ensuring no one in Fiji is deprived of their right to access higher education and decent living and that at the heart of this partnership lies a deep-rooted belief in second chances and community empowerment.
“We believe in second chances and empowering communities by empowering people,” Professor Nabobo-Baba reiterated.
“Through this collaboration, FNU and FCS are reaffirming their commitment to rehabilitation and recognising the inherent potential within every individual, irrespective of their past.”
The Fiji Corrections Service Acting Commissioner, Salote Panapasa also spoke at the event expressing her gratitude about the MoU between the esteemed institutions.
“Today is a new chapter for the Fiji Corrections Services in our effort to enhance the organisation’s capacity and, in particular, our human resources, as this is our priority in our new directions,” she said.
“We acknowledge the cooperation and look forward to working with the Fiji National University to alleviate this partnership to another level.”
The FNU programmes offered under this partnership are poised to redefine the landscape of education and skills development within correctional facilities. From trade tests and aptitude assessments to professional development courses, the offerings by NTPC are designed to equip corrections staff with the knowledge and skills necessary for excellence in their roles.
Yet, the true essence of this partnership lies in its transformative potential for inmates.
“Through skills development training focused on national needs and areas of interest, we will provide opportunities for our inmates to learn trades such as commercial cookery, baking and patisserie, hairdressing, cabinet making, construction, fashion design, and much more. These skills are not just vocational; they are pathways to empowerment and self-sufficiency,” explained Professor Nabobo-Baba.
Through this historic partnership, FNU reaffirms its commitment to building a Fiji where no one is left behind, where second chances abound, and where the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds.