By Staff Writer
Highly respected and loved ‘Esekia’, as he was fondly known, was laid to rest at the weekend on Saturday 6 August 2022, at the grounds of his To’omatagi home.
The 77 year old collapsed from a sudden health related cause on Wednesday 27 July 2022 and died.
He was at the time sitting as one of the panelists for applicants of the vacant CEO position for the Ministry of Education.
Mourners had streamed into his home since Friday for his family service and the next day to his funeral farewell at the EFKS To’omatagi Church.
The Head of State His Highness, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II head the turnout of dignitaries at the service.
The Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa attended and gave eulogy as well as the Tama Aiga, former Head of State and Prime Minister, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.
The University of the South Pacific Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia was present and was able to pay tribute to his predecessor at the University.
Former Prime Minister and HRPP opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, was in attendance as well, in the small church packed into standing room only.
Grieving wife Violeti told the congregation in testimony that they made their usual goodbyes on that day he left home for the last time.
“I said to him as he left, “ Have a good day” and he said, “You too,” Violeti reflected.
“ He has never been home since until yesterday [Friday for his family service].”
Esekia started his working career in education after graduating from university studies in New Zealand with a Bachelor in Science.
He finished off with a diploma in education before he returned to teach at his old school at Samoa College and went on to become school principal.
In 1989 he was successful in his studies for a Masters in Public Administration at Harvard University in the United States.
His civil service career took a leap when he was made Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
“Took quite a while to talk him into taking up the job and it was only at the influence of his parents that he finally agreed,” Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese revealed in eulogy, when he was the Prime Minister at the time.
Esekia would spend several years in the service until he shifted to still another higher level of civil service and a return to his preference as an educator.
In 1992 he was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific to be based in the university campus in Suva, Fiji.
“Solofa was the first VC to be appointed from within the region,” present VC Professor Pal Ahluwalia noted in his tribute.
From experience, Professor Ahluwalia, is well aware of the challenges Eseki faced during his 9 years with the University that ended in 2001.
“The job requires the skills of a civil servant to run a large enterprise with complex financial arrangements, conflicting interests and personalities.
“The large staff were also scattered all throughout the Pacific.”
Esekia rejoined the civil service in Samoa and he was the Chairman of the Cabinet appointed Remuneration Tribunal when his sudden passing took him away.
“He was humble, quiet and a well respected person,” PM Fiame said in her eulogy.
“He was dedicated to his work and contributed so much to the service of Government.”
The PM gratefully announced that the Remuneration Tribunal Report on the legal profession Esekia and his group were working on were completed and tabled ready for Cabinet discussions.
For his wife Violeti the memories of their union of 52 years will be treasured as the endearing qualities of a husband who was “quiet and unassuming,”
“He would be the rainbow compared to me being a cloud that bursts into rain.”
Violeti and their 4 children and 3 grandchildren are left in the family with his passing.
The passage of time in this world for Mulitalo Ali’imuamua Esekia Solofa started when he was born 12 April 1945 and ended 27 July 2022.
His lifetime contributions and success to his family, work and all else he was involved in, stood out prominently in the flooded streaming of mourners to pay their respects and wish him well in his journey.