Selfless duty in the service of others is vital – Prof. Shameem

Selfless duty in the service of others is one of the most important attributes we can learn from the great man Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna.

This was shared by the University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem while reflecting on the life of Ratu Sukuna.

Professor Shameem says the UniFiji joins the nation in commemorating Ratu Sukuna Day, acknowledging the enduring contributions of one of Fiji’s most distinguished national figures mainly as a legacy for future leaders.

She further says they remember his lifelong dedication to the public.

Professor Shameem says that he 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 says Ratu Sukuna was a thinker who was both charismatic and humble and it was undoubtedly his youthful experiences in Fiji that 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.

She adds that the significance of Ratu Sukuna Day was a reminder to the University staff and students of the value of honest leadership in national life.