Naomi Lewakita, 21, walked proudly across the stage at FMF Gymnasium in Suva yesterday, guided by her father, as she collected a Certificate III in Contact Centre Operations — a milestone that family and supporters said capped years of effort and a shift in her studies toward computing and technology. Lewakita, who is visually impaired and from Nayavuira Village in Nakorotubu, Ra, was one of 374 women recognised at the Fiji National University graduation ceremony.
The moment was visibly emotional for Lewakita and her family; her parents and grandmother had travelled from Nakorotubu to witness the ceremony. As graduates lined up to receive their certificates, Lewakita relied on her father’s steady support as she made her way to the stage — an image many attendees described as emblematic of the role family and community play in enabling students with disabilities to complete tertiary qualifications.
Lewakita told the graduation gathering that she had begun studying a Diploma in Special Learning and Inclusive Education in 2024 but found her passion lay in computing and technology, prompting the change in focus. “I was studying a Diploma in Special Learning and Inclusive Ed in 2024, but I had an interest in the area of computing and technology,” she said, reflecting on her academic journey as she accepted her certificate.
She paid special tribute to the Disability Contact Centre for the support it provided, saying its assistance had been instrumental in helping people with disabilities pursue and achieve educational goals like hers. The centre has been highlighted by advocates and families as a key resource for students who require additional accessibility services and guidance through tertiary study.
The Certificate III in Contact Centre Operations equips graduates with skills relevant to customer service, communication and technology-based roles — areas that can offer entry points into the growing contact centre and ICT sectors in Fiji. For many graduates, particularly those from rural areas like Lewakita’s village in Ra, such vocational qualifications represent practical pathways to employment and financial independence.
Lewakita’s graduation adds to ongoing conversations about access to education and employment for people with disabilities in Fiji. Her attendance with family members from Nakorotubu underscores both the personal commitment required and the value of support networks, from immediate relatives to specialised services such as the Disability Contact Centre, in overcoming barriers to tertiary completion.
As one of the visibly proud recipients at yesterday’s ceremony, Lewakita’s achievement was celebrated by family and peers alike, highlighting the small but meaningful advances in inclusion at Fiji’s universities and the potential for vocational training to open new opportunities for students with disabilities.