I did not know what a Minister or a PS does when I was first sworn in - Akbar

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar has revealed that she did not even know what a Permanent Secretary or a Minister does when she was first sworn in.

While speaking at the Fiji National University Leadership Workshop today, she says back then she was experienced as a teacher but not as a national leader.

Akbar says contesting the elections is a big thing and she did not know what she was going to do if she lost.

The Minister says her family did not support her in this and often asked her what she knew about politics.

Akbar says growing up in a really poor family in Ba, she had never even dreamt that she would become one of the leaders of the country.

She says a number of students these days have not experienced the hard life where they had to go to school barefoot which is why the current generation is perhaps not very tough.

Akbar adds they grew up learning to fend for themselves and struggling to survive from one meal to another.

She says this is the pinnacle of her career and she does not wish for anything more.