Apia, Samoa – Friday, 23rd June 2022.
The NUS Vice Chancellor – Professor Aiono had a walk with his friends along the
waterfront at the back of the Talafatai Friendship Park or the newly built Play Ground
Area. To his surprise, he noticed two rusty and wrecked manholes on the pedestrian
path at the seawall which he considered unsafe and that they will pose hazards and
may cause serious injury.
To a great degree, the issue would potentially affect the pedestrians and may pose risks
when they trip and fall, particularly the young kids who may slip in and end up in the
ocean. The sump condition was extremely rusty and corroded as a result of seawater
exposure, which caused metal reaction and destroyed the sump steel frame. In fact,
the function of the steel frame sump was designed to collect groundwater that seeps
through the basement wall and foundations during the rainy seasons.
To resolve the problem, our NUS Vice Chancellor sought the Dean of Faculty of
Technical Education for their kind assistance. As a result, the Dean of FOTE – Lineta
Tamanikaiyaroi and Fabrication Engineering Team assessed the proposal and provided
an expedient solution to ensure pedestrian safety.
Hence, the project suited the learning experience of the current welding students at
the University who are pursuing their Samoa Certificate II in Welding and Fabrication. As
part of their contribution to the community, the Welding Students of FOTE designed,
welded, and installed covers for two manholes without lids along the waterfront of the
Friendship Park at Matagaialalua.
The Small project requested by the Vice Chancellor of the National University and the
visitors of the Park as it became a hazard to the Community at large. For this purpose,
we commend the effort by our very own Faculty of Technical Education and its
Welding and Fabrication Trade for the job well done. Not forgetting the Lecturers,
Susuga Tuasivi Kaleopa, Papu Taiivao and Leiataua Setefano Paulo, who have worked
tirelessly and diligently to put these projects into action to broaden the practical
understanding of our students on becoming the best Welders for Samoa in the future.