Former Deputy Prime Minister, veteran politician, and academic, Dr. Tupeni Lebaivalu, has passed away at the age of 81.
Dr. Baba was a founding member of the Fiji Labour Party and served as Minister for Education, Youth, and Sport in the 1987 FLP Coalition government, and as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister in the 1999 FLP Coalition Government.
Following a split with FLP after the 2000 coup, he established the New Labour Unity Party to contest the 2001 election but did not secure a seat in Parliament. Dr. Baba returned to politics in the 2006 election under the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) banner, and again in the 2014 election as part of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).
Most recently, Dr. Baba was a senior professor of Education and Dean of the School of Humanities and Arts at the University of Fiji, a position he held since 2017. His tenure was marked by intellectual leadership and a strong commitment to his students and colleagues.
“The University has lost a great academic, and the nation a deep intellectual. We will miss him,” said Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem. She also extended heartfelt condolences to Professor Baba’s family, especially to his wife, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, who serves as Vice Chancellor of the Fiji National University.