Tjama Tjivikua
{{Short description|Namibian academic and businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|name = Tjama Tjivikua
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|order =
|office = Vice-chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology
|term_start = 1995
|term_end = March 2019
|predecessor = office established
|successor = Erold Naomab
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|07|27|df=y}}
|birth_place = Otjomupanda, Otjozondjupa Region
|death_date =
|death_place =
|alma_mater = Rockland Community College
Lincoln University
University of Lowell
University of Pittsburgh
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|residence = Windhoek, Namibia
|profession = Chemist
|religion =
|spouse = Neavera Olivier (m. 2015){{cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201512170497.html|title=Namibia: NUST 'First Lady' Role in Spotlight|website=allAfrica.com|accessdate=11 November 2017}}
|children =
|website =
|}}
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.
Education and early life
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.Laudatio for the conferment of the Dr h.c. degree: Dr Tjama Tjivikua. {{cite book|url=http://www.polytechnic.edu.na/about_us/docs/honour.pdf|title=Honoring the Achievers at the 138th Commencement of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, U.S.A.|publisher=Worcester Polytechnic Institute|chapter=Dr. Tjama Tjivikua receives an Honorary Doctorate|access-date=9 November 2010}}
Professional career
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.{{Cite news | title=Du Toit still holds reins at Nust | last=Kahiurika | first=Ndanki | newspaper=The Namibian | date=12 November 2019 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/195677/archive-read/Du-Toit-still-holds-reins-at-Nust}}
Tjivikua has also served on national bodies such as the National Planning Commission (1998–2006), the Namibia Qualifications Authority (1997–{{As of|2010|alt=present}}), the Namibia Council for Higher Education (2006–{{As of|2010|alt=present}}) and several others. He has several business interests, including finance, agriculture, and oil.{{Cite web|last=Shihepo|first=Timo|date=2021-09-03|title=Namibia: Namcor's Fuel Station Partners Revealed ... Tjivikua, Business Personalities With Swapo Links Among|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202109030649.html|access-date=2021-09-28|website=allAfrica.com|language=en}}
Awards
|title=Namibians honoured by President
|newspaper=New Era
|date= 28 August 2014
|url=http://www.newera.com.na/2014/08/28/namibians-honoured-by-president/}}
- 2013: Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa), Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)[http://www.newera.com.na/articles/51854/Poly-s-Tjivikua-awarded-Honorary-Doctorate Poly's Tjivikua awarded Honorary Doctorate], New Era 17 May 2013. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619171219/http://www.newera.com.na/articles/51854/Poly-s-Tjivikua-awarded-Honorary-Doctorate |date=19 June 2013 }}
- 2008: Bank Windhoek Business Communicator of the Year{{cite web
|title=DBN CEO, David Nujoma, shares Namibian Business Communicator of the Year Award
|publisher=Development Bank of Namibia
|url=http://www.dbn.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101:dbn-ceo-david-nujoma-shares-namibian-business-communicator-of-the-year-award&catid=11:press-releases
|accessdate=15 November 2010}}
- 2006: FinWeek recognition as one of the 10 most prominent and respected members of the Namibian society{{cite book
|title=CIM Intern
|chapter=Chancen für Namibias Jugend
|trans-chapter=Opportunities for Namibia's Youth
|language=German
|last1=Christiansen
|first1=Thomas
|last2=Rich
|first2=Christian
|last3=Westhofen-Kunz
|first3=Dorothea
|last4=Gallert
|first4=Peter
|publisher=Centrum für internationale Migration und Entwicklung
|year=2007
|volume=1
|url=http://www.cimonline.de/documents/CIMintern2007_01.pdf}}
- 2006: D.Sc (Honoris Causa) for exceptional contributions to the development of higher education in Namibia, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), USA
- 2005: Life Fellow, Centres for Leadership and Public Values, University of Cape Town and Duke University
- 1985: Outstanding Young Man of America
- 1983: American Chemical Society Award, Lincoln University
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|title=Interview with Tjama Tjivikua|publisher=World Investment News (WinNe)|date=10 March 2006|url=http://www.winne.com/dninterview.php?intervid=1812}}
- {{cite news|title=Namibia: Namcor's Fuel Station Partners Revealed ... Tjivikua, Business Personalities With Swapo Links Among |newspaper=Allafrica.com |date=10 March 2016|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202109030649.html}}
- {{cite news|title=Elite families 'blessed' with fishing rights|newspaper=The Namibian |date=16 April 2020|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/210603/archive-read/Elite-families-blessed-with-fishing-rights}}
- {{cite news|title=Tjivikua brothers butt heads over top job|newspaper=The Namibian |date=10 March 2006|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/206242/archive-read/Tjivikua-brothers-butt-heads-over-top-job}}
- {{cite news|title=NUST Family Affair|newspaper=The Namibian |date=11 October 2020|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/206206/archive-read/Nusts-family-affair}}
- {{cite news|title=Kandjii-Murangi denies meddling in Nust affairs|newspaper=The Namibian |date=11 October 2020|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/188708/archive-read/Kandjii-Murangi-denies-meddling-in-Nust-affairs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tjivikua, Tjama}}
Category:People from Otjozondjupa Region
Category:Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) alumni
Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni
Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni
Category:University of Massachusetts Lowell alumni
Category:Augustineum Secondary School alumni
Category:Academic staff of the Namibia University of Science and Technology