Sui Tama'ita'i o le Nu'u (Savaia) appointed Chief Executive Officer for Samoa National Provident Fund

One of the key priority areas for Samoa’s Gender Equality and Rights of Women and Girls Policy 2021 – 2031 is leadership and decision making. The outcome statement for this priority is being improved gender balance in leadership, governance and public life calls for a review and identification of measures to increase the participation of women in all areas of political leadership, including at the village level.

Consistent with a gender transformative approach, measures to advance women’s political participation must: include identifying and addressing underlying belief systems about the roles and responsibilities of men, women and people of diverse gender identity and gender expression; and acknowledge that gender intersects with other forms of social difference, including age, marital status and rank to marginalise some people more than others.

Additionally, this priority outcome statement calls for a review and identification of measures to increase participation of women in other public leadership roles, including the Judiciary (Land and Titles Courts and judges and assessors), Chairs and Directors of state-owned enterprises, CEOs of government agencies and private entities.

Thus far, it can be safely stated or claimed that Samoa has made progress on this particular policy priority area. As the Chief Executive Officer for Samoa’s Women's machinery I am honoured to see the increase in the selection of women to become CEOs for both Government Ministries and Corporations. I was even more honoured to congratulate a woman who was a Sui Tamaitai o le Nuu for Savaia Lefaga being chosen to become the CEO of the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNFP).

During the government representatives July monthly meeting on Wednesday 5th July 2023, the CEO MWCSD spoke on behalf of all the STNs, SNs and SMs to congratulate the new SNPF CEO Afioga Lemalu Selesitina Meni former STN for Savaia and to recognize a historical moment for the saofaiga Sui Tamaitai o Nuu.

The MWCSD, STNs, SN & SM wishes you well our very own Lemalu Selesitina Meni for a well-deserved position. As per the words of MWCSD’s CEO during her congratulatory remarks – “Lau Afioga Lemalu alo i ou faiva, ia lele malie lau tia, taitai faa Tamaitai, taitai faa tausala. Laa o matou tapuai, po le fala ma ula le mulila ao e saasaa” Congratulations once again to the new CEO for NPF.