Tapusātele Le Māmea Tuiletufuga Lemalu Su’a Leatuavao Ropati Mualia was New Zealand’s first Samoan to graduate with a bachelor of pharmacy from Otago in 1970.
Dr Mualia went on to become the chief pharmacist at Cherry Farm Hospital in 1971 and, the following year, he returned to Samoa to serve as chief pharmacist at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital of Samoa, from 1972 to 1973.
While there, he played a crucial role in the development of Samoa’s pharmacy services.
Dr Mualia went on to establish Samoa Pharmacy Ltd, and later founded Multipharm Laboratories — a manufacturer and wholesaler of pharmaceutical products.
Through these ventures, he helped make healthcare more accessible to communities in Apia and beyond.
By 1979, he had been elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa and was appointed to cabinet in 1982.
His most transformative contribution was his role as Samoa’s minister of education, when he founded the National University of Samoa (NUS) in 1984, which expanded access to higher education for generations of Samoans.
He once said: ‘‘There is no philosophy under the sun that can work wonders in breaking the circle of poverty and backwardness other than the philosophy of education.’’
The NUS awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2018, in recognition of his remarkable legacy.
When he resigned from parliament in 2016, the Samoan government appointed him to the Council of Deputies (deputy head of state), making him one of the country’s two deputy heads of state.
Throughout his career, he represented Samoa on the international stage, and also made a significant impact as a community leader through service as a matai, church elder, lay preacher and across numerous civic, sporting and charitable organisations.
Dr Mualia was presented with a prestigious University of Otago Distinguished Alumni Award, which formally recognises his exceptional and sustained contributions to his field and to society.
It was presented by a delegation, led by vice-chancellor Grant Robertson, at a ceremony in Apia this week.
Dr Mualia said he was ‘‘deeply honoured and sincerely grateful’’ to the university for the recognition.
‘‘This award holds special significance, not only in reflecting on my academic beginnings at Otago in 1970, but also in my enduring connection to the university and to the Pacific community.’’
Mr Robertson said Dr Mualia’s life’s work was testament to visionary leadership, integrity and a profound commitment to public service, which
made him a most deserving recipient.
