Two prominent staff from Fiji National University’s National Training & Productivity Centre (NTPC) were bestowed with Fiji’s 50 Years Commemorative Independence Medals by the President, His Excellency Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konusi Konrote at the State House on Tuesday this week.
The proud recipients NTPC Director Dr Isimeli Tagicakiverata, and NTPC’s manager Department of Quality Awards Bob Mitchell Kolitagane expressed their gratitude for being recognised for their continuous efforts towards improving the nation’s workforce productivity and setting business excellence benchmarks through productivity programmes.
Dr Tagicakiverata said it was an honour for him, and he thanked his family and his NTPC/FNU colleagues for their support.
“I am very grateful for this recognition for the work that we do at FNU and NTPC for the community and industries in Fiji,” Dr Tagicakiverata said, “In retrospect, a lot of the training and productivity initiatives that we do in the community and for the industry has changed people’s lives, improved opportunities, lifted people out of poverty, and given them renewed hope. There is a lot of satisfaction in seeing fellow Fijians gaining new skills, new vision, new aspirations and most of all building their lives, their families and communities.”
Kolitagane also expressed his gratitude adding the award recognised their collective efforts and contributions towards Fiji’s socio-economic and political progress.
“To be amongst the selected few as recipients of the Fiji 50 Commemorative medal is a testament to our contribution in the respective field of TVET, community learning, and skills-based training for industries and promoting Quality and Productivity at the national level,” Mr Kolitagane said.
The 50 Years Commemorative Independence Medals are presented to deserving members of Fiji’s various communities for their individual and collective efforts at nation-building.