The Prime Minister of the island nation of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga, came to Laie, Hawaii, on Friday, March 18, for a visit to BYU–Hawaii during a weeklong trip to Oahu. While at BYU–Hawaii, the Prime Minister met with President John S. Tanner, took a tour of campus, addressed a student group, and participated in a review of an ongoing educational project that had its beginnings with BYU–Hawaii’s Enactus student chapter. Accompanying the Prime Minister was his wife Saililo Enele, and Samuelu Teo, a member of the Tuvaluan Parliament.
WATCH A VIDEO OF BYU–HAWAII STUDENTS INVOLVED WITH TUVALU
Prime Minister Sopoaga was greeted at the David O. McKay Foyer with a traditional Oli by current students, faculty and others who gathered to greet the head of state and his delegation. BYU–Hawaii currently has three students enrolled from Tuvalu. The nation has a population of approximately 10,000 people on an area of 10 square miles. In his address to students, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that more students from Tuvalu would get their education at BYU–Hawaii.
In 2011, a group of students from BYU–Hawaii’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter organized a project to strengthen the education and economy of Tuvalu. From that project, several other efforts have been initiated to support Tuvaluans, including workshops and training on entrepreneurship, marketing, and technology, and advancing education with a new school. Saililo Enele, wife of the Prime Minister, reported during their visit to Hawaii that the school now has 80 students participating.
The SIFE organization is now called Enactus. Visit enactus.byuh.edu to learn about BYU–Hawaii’s National Champion student team.
Elele Sosene Sopoaga has been Prime Minister of Tuvalu since 2013. He was elected to Parliament in 2010 and served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment and Labour.