NETANI Sukanaivalu stood tall and proud at the Fiji National University’s (FNU) inaugural alumni gala dinner and awards night at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Saturday after being awarded the Roll of Honour for the then Fiji Institute of Technology Class of 1971.
As he received his award from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, he shared to hundreds of other alumni present at the function his days spent at the then FIT now the FNU.
The former Education and Lands Minister had played a major role not only as a former student of the institution but also someone who was eager to prove an asset to the institution when he was appointed the lecturer in-charge of the School of Maritime Studies in 1975 and 1982 and became the first local head of School for Maritime Studies.
He also created history by being the first and the only former student of Derrick Technical Institute in Samabula to have become FIT’s vice principal in 1988 before being promoted to principal two years later.
As the then Education Minister, he had initially recommended to Cabinet the establishment of the University of Science and Technology now the FNU and also played major roles in negotiating land sites in Nadi, Ba and Labasa for FNU campuses.
Other notable inclusions in the FNU’s Roll of Honour included the late Dr Timoci Bavadra, Dr Jiko Luveni, the late Dr Jona Senilagakali and Alifereti Cawanibuka.
