Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate during the National University of Samoa graduation ceremony, yesterday.
Fiame became Samoa’s first female head of government, breaking a long-standing tradition of Human Rights Protection Party leadership.
The University said she had been a dedicated member of Parliament since 1985, representing the Constituency of Lotofaga, becoming the longest-serving female member of the Samoan Parliament to date.
In addition to her political career, Fiame has made significant contributions to education, women’s leadership, and community development.
She has held various ministerial positions, including Minister of Education, Minister of Women, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; as well as Samoa’s first female Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party.
She also played a key role in the merger between the National University of Samoa and the Samoa Polytechnic in 2006.
For her outstanding contributions to education, women’s leadership, and community development, the University expressed sincere pride in conferring upon Fiame the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
Photo: Talamua Media
