The University that started with $5 Tala celebrates $30m Milestone

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 14 February 2024: Forty years ago, Samoa established the National University of Samoa (NUS) on a budget of $5 tala, 45 students and less than 20 teachers in the Foundation Program only.

Today, NUS celebrated a milestone with a budget of about $30 million tala, more than 3,000 students, 300 staff members and more than 100 programs on offer.

The Minister for Education and Culture, Seuula Ioane who delivered the keynote address reflected on the University’s humble beginnings and has come a long way.

From 1984 to 2024, the National University of Samoa has produced 25,647 graduates and 10,537 are Foundation graduates.

Some of the students of the Maritime School supplying seamen and women for maritime employment opportunities around the world.

The number of Undergraduates and Degree /Higher Degree graduates sits at 8,789 and the remaining 6,321 are TVET graduates.

“These figures demonstrate the university’s valuable and ongoing contribution to the Human Resource development of Samoa,” said the Minister.

“And it is without a doubt that the university has successfully made an indelible mark in the development of Samoa and that families, villages, churches and Samoa as a whole has benefitted in one way or another from the education that their children received from the National University of Samoa,” said Seuula who is himself a graduate.

The Minister of Education, Seuula Ioane speaking at the end of the parade this morning.

As an educator himself, Seuula paid tribute to those who have passed on and those still amongst the living and who have contributed one way or another to the success of the University.

One of the original teachers of the university from 1984 still at NUS is Silafau Professor Sina Vaai.

The 40^th celebration started last night with a Mass that featured former students in various parts of the Mass. Today’s events started with a morning parade along Beach Road that featured various schools and faculties of the University. The celebration runs throughout the week with various activities and events to highlight the institutions 40 years of progress and achievements to date.