The University of Fiji joins the nation in commemorating Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day, acknowledging the enduring contributions of one of Fiji’s most distinguished national figures mainly as a legacy for future leaders.
In a statement marking the day, University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem reflected on Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s lifelong dedication to public service and duty.
“There are some important lessons to be learnt from the legacy of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, the most important of which, for present and future leadership, is selfless duty in the service of others”, she said.
Professor Shameem said that Ratu Sukuna was multi-skilled, with achievements that spanned across education, law, governance, and military service, including becoming the first iTaukei university graduate, serving in World War I despite the obstacles he faced, and, later, shaping governance and bureaucracy in colonial Fiji. She said Ratu Sukuna was a thinker who was both charismatic and humble.
She said it was undoubtedly his youthful experiences in Fiji that had shaped Ratu Sukuna which allowed him to find opportunities despite the hardships he faced during his overseas sojourns, including discrimination and impoverishment, judging by the articulate letters he wrote home.
The University of Fiji recognized the human values attributes of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna which resonates with the University’s own philosophy of education even now, despite the passage of time, Professor Shameem said.
She said the significance of Ratu Sukuna Day was a reminder to the University staff and students of the value of honest leadership in national life.
