MEMBERS of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) will get leadership and technical training from the Fiji National University.
The new partnership was made possible through the request of GCC chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula.
Ratu Viliame said the university played a key role in imparting knowledge and skills to help individuals make informed decisions.
He said while iTaukei issues were not isolated, other races faced the same indigenous problems in Fiji.
“Therefore, proper capacity development building for chiefs is needed, and a collaboration with the Fiji National University would be beneficial,” he said.
“This will enable them to identify solutions to the existing issues.”
Ratu Viliame said the expertise of the Fiji National University was needed in the planning and formulation of the GCC’s strategic plan.
FNU chancellor and council chairman Semesa Karavaki welcomed the GCC’s request to provide leadership training to the chiefs.
“We can map out from the discussions how we can move forward, not only for capacity building for the GCC but as nation-building and what we can become in the future,” Mr Karavaki said.
“FNU has the capacity to work with the GCC and the FNU Council, and the senior leadership team is prepared to give our support. This is your national university.”
FNU vice-chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said their discussions with Ratu Viliame had reinforced the university’s commitment to nation building.
“By collectively investing in capacity building and leveraging their unique strengths, FNU and GCC are paving the way for a more prosperous and empowered future for the nation and its people,” Prof Nabobo-Baba said.
The impact of the alliance, she said, was poised to resonate far beyond the confines of academia and traditional governance, leaving a legacy of advancement and growth for generations to come.
