FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba
Photo Credit: Fiji Government
The Fiji National University (FNU) congratulates two of its distinguished women academics on their national appointments to key government commissions, recognising their expertise and leadership in shaping Fiji’s future.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba has been appointed to the Fiji Constitution Review Commission, while Associate Professor Dr Lavinia Tiko has been named to the Fiji Education Commission. Their appointments reflect FNU’s continued contribution to national development through knowledge, research, and leadership.
Professor Nabobo-Baba has been appointed as a Commissioner to the seven-member national body tasked with leading an inclusive review of Fiji’s 2013 Constitution. Her appointment was formalised during a swearing-in ceremony at the State House, officiated by His Excellency the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
The Commission is mandated to gather submissions from Fijians across all divisions and recommend constitutional reforms that reflect national aspirations. It is scheduled to submit its final report by 31 August 2026, marking a significant step in Fiji’s democratic evolution. Professor Nabobo-Baba’s leadership ensures that Pacific epistemologies, equity, and culturally grounded governance principles shape national dialogue and constitutional outcomes.
An internationally recognised scholar of education, indigenous knowledge systems, and development, Professor Nabobo-Baba brings more than 40 years of academic leadership to the role. Her extensive experience at regional and international institutions, combined with her longstanding advocacy for Pacific-led research and policy, positions her as a powerful voice for equitable, culturally grounded, and future‑focused national governance.
In this role, Professor Nabobo-Baba will contribute to a process described by the Government as critical to strengthening Fiji’s democracy and addressing long‑standing concerns regarding the 2013 Constitution. The Commission is expected to submit its final report to the President by 31 August 2026, after extensive national consultations.
“I remain committed to serving our nation through education and leadership, while contributing to national development. This appointment is both a privilege and a responsibility to support the strengthening of our Constitution for the future of Fiji,” Professor Nabobo-Baba said.
Following Professor Nabobo-Baba’s appointment, Associate Professor Dr Lavinia Tiko, Associate Dean Learning & Teaching at the College of Humanities, Education & Law, has also been named to the Fiji Education Commission, the national advisory body tasked with a comprehensive review of Fiji’s education system from Early Childhood Education to tertiary and lifelong learning.
Dr Lavinia Tiko
Dr Tiko stands out as an education specialist, the only Fijian Early Childhood Education Development & Primary specialist on the Commission, bringing deep expertise across curriculum design, assessment, policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, and education system reform. Her work is firmly grounded in Indigenous and Pacific knowledge systems, ensuring that proposed national reforms remain culturally responsive and aligned with the lived realities of Fijian learners, teachers, and communities.
Her leadership extends across critical cross‑cutting national priorities such as climate justice, food security, gender equity, and social protection, which influence the broader education system’s responsiveness and resilience. Through her contribution, the Commission is positioned to strengthen the entire education continuum and shape a future‑focused system that enhances access, equity, and learning outcomes for all Fijians.
“Fiji needs an education system that is bold in its ambition and firmly future‑focused, one that places equity and social justice at its core, honours our cultural wisdom, and equips every learner to thrive in a world reshaped by digital change, climate realities, and the promise of a Blue Pacific future,” said Dr Tiko.
FNU congratulates both Professor Nabobo-Baba and Associate Professor Dr Tiko on their significant national appointments. Their roles reflect the University’s commitment to excellence, Indigenous leadership, and meaningful contributions to Fiji’s constitutional, educational, and societal development.
FNU stands ready to support their work as they help shape Fiji’s future through national policy, community engagement, and knowledge-driven leadership.