HENTIES BAY – The University of Namibia’s Henties Bay campus, also known as the Sam Nujoma Campus, is one of the institutions where the presence of the founding president will always be felt. 

Nujoma did not need an invitation to visit one of his flagship creations. Whenever he was in Henties Bay, he would simply arrive – no fanfare, just a man walking onto the campus that was his heartbeat. Nujoma would engage students, ask about their research, and listen as if he had all the time in the world. 

Students and staff of the campus remember Nujoma as a prolific figure, who gave them the opportunity not only to excel, but also contribute to his dream of a self-sufficient country. New Era visited the campus, where the mood was sombre. A framed picture of Nujoma, surrounded by candles, had found a permanent corner on campus. “They would call early in the morning and say he’s in Henties Bay and wants to make a courtesy call. For him, it was just about pride and joy in what we were doing. He was a people’s person. He could listen for hours, or visit our research projects with great interest,” the staff told New Era. The campus was transformed from a vision into a fully-fledged institution, realising Nujoma’s dream for Namibia – to conduct its own research and become self-sufficient in food security and ocean preservation. 

With just two buildings in 2002, the campus has grown into a fully-fledged institution over 20 years. 

Now accommodating over 200 students, the centre plays a key role in marine life research – thanks to Nujoma’s drive for education, which allowed them to pursue careers he envisioned. 

Campus director Johannes Iitembu reflected on Nujoma’s legacy. He told New Era that they hoped he would be present at their 20th anniversary. “We can now only honour his contributions to the campus,” Iitembu remarked. 

He said Nujoma’s role in ensuring Namibia has enough fisheries experts has paid off. 

They have now produced a significant number of graduates in fisheries and marine sciences. 

“At least 70% of them have been absorbed into the fishing sector or the ministry, conducting critical research,” he said. 

Iitembu stated that Nujoma’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge defined him. “One of the things we will always remember about him is how he would ask questions. He was never too old to learn. That will remain with us,” he noted. 

Drive for innovation 

Allan Mupambwa, a senior researcher in desert agriculture, said Nujoma was visionary. 

He noted that the founding father was keen on seeing research done on Namibia’s coastal and marine environment. 

“His desire was to see Namibians and Africans driving their own research. Every time he was here, he would encourage that for our own resources’ sustainably,” Mupambwa said. He highlighted Nujoma’s enthusiasm for innovation and interest in turning Namibia’s desert into an agricultural hub. 

Thanks to him, they ventured into establishing a desalination plant, which is now used for research. “The pilot desalination unit generates fresh water for agriculture. We also have land where we planted olives as part of our desert greening research, aligned with his vision. We are eager to see how much we can contribute in terms of carbon credits by using renewable energy to irrigate these olive trees and produce olive oil,” he stated. Mupambwa added that Nujoma’s vision for self-sufficiency is even more relevant today, given the shifting international political landscape. “That is why he believed Namibia, being arid, must become self-reliant,” he said. 

Campus administrator Bernardo Evaristus echoed similar sentiments. “One of the greatest values he imparted to the nation was the establishment of this campus. It has become a beacon of knowledge, research and innovation. Here, we train students to contribute to the sustainable development of the country and Henties Bay,” he said. 

He stated that many people did not even know about Henties Bay – but thanks to the campus, more people do. Senior lecturer Dietlinde Nakwaya-Jacobus remembered how inspiring Nujoma was. 

“I remember when we graduated in 2009. It was a special ceremony. Funny enough, we were supposed to be seated next to each other, but he was moved to a different seat,” she recalled with a smile. She recalled how often he frequented the university library in Windhoek while he was pursuing his master’s degree in geology. 

“He was always at the geology department, and even went on field trips with students. He was a man of wisdom and great vision,” she said. 

-edeklerk@nepc.com.na