Tjama Tjivikua | |
---|---|
Vice-chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology | |
In office 1995 –March 2019 | |
Preceded by | position established |
Succeeded by | Erold Naomab |
Personal details | |
Born | Otjomupanda,Otjozondjupa Region | 27 July 1958
Spouse | Neavera Olivier (m. 2015) [1] |
Residence(s) | Windhoek,Namibia |
Alma mater | Rockland Community College Lincoln University University of Lowell University of Pittsburgh Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Profession | Chemist |
Tjama Tjivikua (born 27 July 1958) is a Namibian academic and businessman. He was the Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia in Windhoek since its inception in 1995. When the institution was renamed into Namibia University of Science and Technology in 2015,Tjivikua continued to lead it,now in the position of vice-chancellor,until March 2019.
Tjivikua was born on 27 July 1958 in Otjomupanda,Otjozondjupa Region. His mother was a nurse and his father a school teacher. He grew up in Oruua in the then Ovitoto Reserve,and started primary school in 1967 at St Barnabas Anglican Church School in Windhoek's Old Location. His family soon moved to Katutura as a result of the forced removal of blacks from Old Location,and he continued his schooling there. After completing high school at Windhoek's Augustineum (1976–1978),Tjivikua worked at the main branch of Barclays Bank (now First National Bank) in Windhoek.
Tjivikua left Namibia in June 1979 to study chemistry in the United States at Rockland Community College (1979–1980) and then Lincoln University (1980–1983),from which he graduated cum laude . He then completed a MSc at University of Lowell and a PhD at University of Pittsburgh and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His thesis was on molecular recognition in organic chemistry. He was a well recognized researcher at that time,and he worked as assistant professor of chemistry at Lincoln University from 1990 to 1995. [2]
In 1995,Tjivikua returned to Namibia to take up the post as founding Rector of Polytechnic of Namibia. When the institution was renamed into Namibia University of Science and Technology in 2015,Tjivikua continued to lead it,now in the position of vice-chancellor,until March 2019. Morne du Toit and Andrew Niikondo were successively appointed in acting position until Erold Naomab was appointed in 2021. [3]
Tjivikua has also served on national bodies such as the National Planning Commission (1998–2006),the Namibia Qualifications Authority (1997–present [update] ),the Namibia Council for Higher Education (2006–present [update] ) and several others. [2] He has several business interests,including finance,agriculture,and oil. [4]
Theo-Ben Gurirab was a Namibian politician who served in various senior government positions. He served as the second prime minister of Namibia from 28 August 2002 to 20 March 2005,following the demotion and subsequent resignation of Hage Geingob. Previously he was the country's first Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 2002 and was President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1999 to 2000. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia from 2005 to 2015,when he was replaced by Peter Katjavivi. Gurirab ultimately resigned from politics in 2015.
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is a Namibian politician who served as the second president of Namibia from 21 March 2005 to 21 March 2015. He won the 2004 presidential election overwhelmingly as the candidate of SWAPO and was reelected in 2009. Pohamba was the president of SWAPO from 2007 until his retirement in 2015. He is a recipient of the Ibrahim Prize.
Hage Gottfried Geingob was a Namibian politician who served as the third president of Namibia from 2015 until his death in February 2024. Geingob was the first prime minister of Namibia from 1990 to 2002,and served again from 2012 to 2015. Between 2008 and 2012 Geingob served as Minister of Trade and Industry. In November 2014,Geingob was elected president of Namibia by an overwhelming margin. In November 2017,Geingob became the third president of the ruling SWAPO Party after winning by a large margin at the party's sixth Congress. He served as the party's president until his death. In August 2018,Geingob began a one-year term as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community.
Suh Nam-pyo was the thirteenth president of KAIST from 2006 until 2013,succeeding Robert B. Laughlin and succeeded by Sung-Mo Kang.
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST),formerly known as Polytechnic of Namibia,is a public university located in the city of Windhoek,Namibia. NUST was headed by the founding vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua until March 2019. After two acting appointments,Erold Naomab was appointed vice-chancellor in January 2021. The largely ceremonial role of chancellor of the university is held by Peter Katjavivi.
McHenry Venaani is a Namibian politician and the President of the Popular Democratic Movement,a party with five seats in the National Assembly of Namibia and one seat in the National Council of Namibia. Venaani was contesting for a presidential race which took place on the 27th November 2024. Venaani has been a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2010,in 2014,and since 2015. At the time of his appointment in 2002,he was Namibia's youngest MP. He was one of the three candidates standing for election as Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority in January 2023,competing against Hoze Riruako and Mike Kavekotora.
Erastus Amutenya Uutoni is a Namibian SWAPO politician who has served in the cabinet of Namibia since March 2010.
Harold Pupkewitz was a Lithuanian born,Namibian entrepreneur and member of the President's Economic Advisory Council. He was the Executive Chairman of Pupkewitz Holdings,a group of builders' merchants,car sale businesses,and a host of other enterprises,from its foundation in 1946 until his death. Pupkewitz directed the boards of several important Namibian companies,among them NamPost,NamPower,Telecom Namibia,and MTC Namibia,and served as president of a number of high-profile political and economical institutions.
Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun is a Namibian businesswoman and politician. She is the former president of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).
The Augustineum Secondary School,established in 1866,is among the oldest schools in Namibia. Originally situated in Otjimbingwe,it was relocated to Okahandja in 1890,and finally to Windhoek in 1968. Previously also known as the Augustineum Training College and today the Augustineum Secondary School,it is a public school located in Khomasdal,a suburb of Windhoek.
St Barnabas was an Anglican mission station,church,and school in Windhoek,the administrative centre of South West Africa. The school was situated in the Old Location suburb. When Old Location was closed for blacks in 1968 the existing buildings and institutions,among them St Barnabas,were destroyed.
Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi is a Namibian politician who has been the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia since March 2015 and the chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology from 1992 to 2003. Previously he was the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia from 1992 to 2003,Ambassador to the European Union from 2003 to 2006,Ambassador to Germany from 2006 to 2008,and Director General of the National Planning Commission from 2008 to 2010.
Anicia Peters is a Namibian computer scientist specializing in human–computer interaction (HCI). She is the CEO of the National Commission of Research,Science and Technology (NCRST).
Sabu Thomas is an Indian professor who is serving as the vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University,Kerala. He is also a full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences. He was the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University,Kerala during the period of 31 August 2017 to 31 August 2018,Director of School of Chemical Science during the period of 1 November 2010 to 31 December 2013. Hon. Director of International &Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology during the period of 28 March 2009 to 11 September 2015,2 February 2016 to 11 October 2017.
Dimbulukeni 'Dee' Nauyoma is a Namibian youth activist who along with Job Amupanda and George Kambala co-founded a radical youth movement known as the Affirmative Repositioning in November 2014. Prior to the formation of the Affirmative Repositioning,he served in the SWAPO Youth League until 2014. From 2015 to 2018,he served as Secretary General of the Namibia National Students Organisation.
Itah Kandji-Murangi is a Namibian politician. She is Namibia's Minister of Higher Education,Training and Innovation.
Andrew Niikondo is a Namibian academic. He is the pro-vice-chancellor for academic affairs of the Namibia University of Science and Technology and the chairperson of the think tank of SWAPO.
Erold Naomab is a Namibian academic. He is the vice-chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
Veikko Nekundi is a Namibian politician serving in the Cabinet of Namibia as deputy minister of works and transport. He is also a legislator in the National Assembly since 2015.