THE launch of the Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Scholarship Trust will provide opportunities for unfortunate students from Cakaudrove to pursue a brighter future through education.
Speaking at the launch of the trust on Saturday night, the Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, said the scholarship would support deserving students from the province who excelled in their academic fields, but were not in a sound financial position to fund their academic pursuit, especially those in specialised fields.
Ratu Naiqama said with the scrapping of the Fijian Affairs Board scholarship and the untenable conditions of the current Tertiary Education Loans Scheme, it was imperative that indigenous Fijians initiated self-help measures to counter the state of affairs in Fiji.
He also challenged chiefs around the country to rise up and take charge of the better future of their people.
“What are we as chiefs doing to play our role in contributing to the education of our young ones. I hope that this will be a source of inspiration to other chiefly households on enhancing the support of their vanua not only in politics, but how people are led.”
