Government’s new Chief Statistician

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 03 January 2018, 12:00AM

A new woman has been appointed and endorsed by Cabinet to take charge of the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.). 

After serving 30 years in the statistical services, Ali’imuamua Malaefono Ta’aloga, is the government’s new Chief Statistician.

She succeeds one of Samoa’s longest serving C.E.O., Muagututi’a Sefuiva Reupena. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, Ali’imuamua said she’s overwhelmed with joy “as the new Government Statistician or C.E.O. after spending all my working life, since 1987 in the statistical services”. 

Ali’imuamua thanked the outgoing C.E.O, Muagututi’a, for all the challenges and milestones they have been through together in the development of statistical services in Samoa. 

“I will continue his good work and look forward to improve working in partnership with our stakeholders, private sector, civil societies, technical and international partners and all users of statistics,” she said.

Ali’imuamua was the A.C.E.O. of Census, Surveys and Demography Statistics Division.

 According to Ali’imuamua, their goal is to continue to provide relevant, quality statistics for the benefit of Samoa.

“I thank the almighty God for all the wonderful blessings that I have achieved in my life,” she said. 

Ali’imuamua lost both her parents, the late Tauā Faafeū Fuataga Penita of Lalomanu, Saanapu and Ruta Ioapo Natoealofa of Moataa and Safotu. 

“I just wish that my late parents, my sister, Eseta Hope and grandmother, Ala and grandfather, Tanielu, were still alive to celebrate this achievement because they were my mentors who always cheered and pushed me beyond my limits,” she said fighting back her tears. 

Ali’imuamua holds a Master’s Degree in Demography from the Australian National University, Postgraduate Diploma in Population Studies and B.A. in Economics and Administration from the University of the South Pacific. 

She is a graduate of Samoa College. 

An award winner in her line of work, Ali’imuamua received the Samoa Public Service Innovation and Excellence Individual Award for Organizational Development and Capacity Building Initiativein 2015. 

She also attended the prestigious Kish Fellowship in Sampling Programme for Survey Statistician, Michigan University in U.S.A. which was for eight weeks. 

She also holds a Postgraduate Sampling Course from U.N.E.S.C.O. Fellowship Bank Programme with the Massey University, New Zealand, in 2003. 

Ali’imuamua is the co-author of the Sydney University School of Public Health on research about patterns of risk: a cross sectional analysis of associations between socio-demographic factors, diet and weight in Samoan women from the 2014 Samoa Demographic and Health Survey.

Highlights of her career include, successfully conducting and analyzing of four Population and Housing Censuses for S.B.S. in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016. 

This contributed to the provision of regular and timely population data to meet increasing demands for population information for planning, policy-making and program interventions such as community projects on water and environment, youth and women’s programs, employment programs, S.D.G.s, S.D.S. and many others. 

The new C.E.O. was also involved in the analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey 2014 and Disability Surveys 2014 for the first time which S.B.S. took over from M.O.H. 

This survey contributed to provision of regular and timely health data to meet increasing demands for health information for planning, policy-making and program interventions by M.O.H., N.H.S., Family Planning agencies, Nutrition agencies, Health Education agencies, S.D.G.s and S.D.S.

Married to Ta’aloga, they have five children Ruseta, Ala Talei, Anderson, Faasulu and Faafeu. 

Ali’imuamua is thankful to her family for their sacrifice and enduring her absence from home because of the long hours of work. 

“I also thank all my families, friends and colleagues for their loyalty and support.” 

The new C.E.O.’s chiefly title, Ali’imuamua, comes from her father’s Mulitalo ancestors at Saanapu. She is actively involved in family matters and also holds the treasurer position for our Women’s family development activities.

“I am also a proud member of the Savaia Village Women’s Committee and the Talomua Committee from 2007 to present at my husband’s village,” she said. 

Ali’imuamua is also a member of Moata’a E.F.K.S. Church and is also a committee member for deacons and pastors wives since 2008. 

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 03 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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