The University of Fiji has reaffirmed its commitment to leadership development and inclusive democratic participation through the contribution of one of its academics to a national training programme aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and media engagement.
University of Fiji Law Lecturer and Director of Special Projects, Mrs. Sainiana Waqainabete Radrodro, was invited by Balance of Power (BOP) as one of several facilitators for a training programme on “Strengthening Women’s Leadership and Media Engagement for Inclusive Elections” held at the BOP Office in Flagstaff, Suva.
The training brought together women community leaders from across Fiji, identified through the Fiji Council of Social Services, and featured a range of facilitators and resource persons from government, media and civil society organizations.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said the expertise of our staff means the University is often invited by stakeholders to provide deep insights into significant areas of public life, in this case about women’s leadership due to upcoming local and national elections in Fiji.
“Our emphasis is values, because of the human values foundation of the University. This workshop gave an opportunity to our colleague, Ms Radrodro, to underscore women’s leadership from that holistic perspective.”
During her two sessions, Mrs. Radrodro focused on developing clear, values-based messages aligned with community priorities and the importance of ethical leadership in public life.
In her opening session on “Developing clear, values-based messages aligned with community priorities”, Mrs. Radrodro reminded participants that leadership is not about gender but about values.
“In a male-dominated society, women must frame leadership around values, not gender. When women lead with respect and resilience, they redefine strength.”
She urged participants to see national service as a calling at the highest level of governance, stressing that campaign messages must speak directly to Fiji’s deepest challenges.
Mrs. Radrodro noted that voters often feel abandoned after elections when politicians disappear from communities. She emphasized that ethical leadership demands listening, understanding and addressing the real needs of the people.
“Leadership means being seen, questioned, and sometimes criticized. This is not weakness, it is the weight of responsibility. True leaders meet scrutiny with confidence, courage, and hard work, leaving little room for doubt.”
Mrs. Radrodro also encouraged women to embrace public scrutiny as proof that people are paying attention.
“Respond with facts. Stay calm. Use criticism as feedback. Transparency builds trust and strengthens leadership. Values are your compass, they steady you under pressure and remind voters why they can trust you.”
She further highlighted the importance of values-driven leadership in Fiji’s democratic future.
“Unity, integrity, and resilience are not just ideals, they are the heartbeat of Fiji. Integrity fights corruption, fairness champions education, unity celebrates our diversity, and resilience honors our survival through hardship. These values define us, and they must define our leaders.”
The training was delivered in collaboration with Women in Media and BBC Media Action.
The University of Fiji extends its best wishes to all women candidates in the upcoming elections and looks forward to stronger women’s representation in Parliament.
