I thank the Samoa Observer for the recent editorial and disseminating information to our community about our actions to thrive as a higher learning institution during the pandemic. 

There was a headline from last Sunday’s paper that misinterpreted our Annual Report Accounts 2020-21 in an article headed “NUS records $4.72 M loss”.

Instead of a loss, we made a surplus of $2.22M in the 2020-21 financial year effectively reducing the total deficit carried forward from 2019 to $4.72M. 

In the last financial year 2021-22, we made a surplus of $5.37M which has now wiped the deficit completely.

We have a communications officer who will be happy to assist the media and she can be reached at [email protected] 

Yours sincerely,

Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma

• Editor's Note: The story referenced above in the letter to the editor quoted figures from the NUS 2021 Annual Report: 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021.