Close to fifty graduates of the University of the South Pacific (U.S.P.) were honoured in a ceremony on Friday, including those from Fiji who were unable to attend their graduation last week due to travel restrictions. 

Forty-nine students from the Samoa Campus were joined by twenty students from the Fiji Laucala Campus to claim their certificates before families and friends at the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) Maota o Tupulaga Hall at Sogi.

Speaking during the ceremony, the new Samoa Campus Director, To'oto'oleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono-Le Tagaloa said she was pleased to announce that University is awarding almost 30 post-graduate certificates on Friday. 

70 per cent of the graduates are female, she added.

It is her first graduation as the Campus Director since taking on the role late last month after returning from teaching law in New Zealand. 

Referring to the graduates, To'oto'olea'ava thanked the students for bringing credit to themselves, their families, communities and the University. 

"Graduating in 2021 is truly extraordinary," she said. "The journey to the finish line has been anything but normal."

"The resilience, determination and adaptability you have endured to be here today is a truly remarkable feat to be celebrated.

"With the numerous shifts in the academic calendar and several lockdowns, we are indeed proud..."

To'oto'olea'ava reminded the graduates not to be afraid to step out into the world where vast opportunities lie waiting to be claimed.

"Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and most of you who will begin your careers, my advice to you is the future can be better than the present," she said. 

Hundreds gathered at the hall to greet their loved ones who walked the stage, a sweet culmination of their years of hard work. 

A graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration, Peter Gafa Lokeni, spoke on behalf of the students during the ceremony. 

Mr. Lokeni expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the University staff, families and friends for all their contributions and sacrifices which have allowed them their achievement.

This comes after another graduation ceremony recognising more than 150 graduates of 2019 and 2020 was held last month. Due to the 2019 measles epidemic, the university had cancelled the ceremony for that year's cohort and subsequently cancelled the 2020 ceremony due to the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.