Nujoma, who led Namibia to independence in 1990, was president of the young republic until 2005. From the beginning, he was a firm supporter of Bremen's partnership with Namibia. Even before independence, he had the opportunity to see the work of the University of Bremen's Namibia Project for himself during a visit to Germany in 1989, when he also met the then Senator for Education, Henning Scherf. Scherf had the honor of attending the independence celebrations of the newly founded republic in Windhoek on March 21, 1990, and conveying Bremen's congratulations to the new president.
"Sam Nujoma's commitment laid the foundation for the partnership between the University of Bremen and the University of Windhoek, as well as other institutions in Namibia. It will continue to bear fruit in the future," said Professor Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen.
The University of Bremen as a Partner in the Development of the New State
The University of Bremen was an important partner in the establishment of the new state, not least due to the commitment of Manfred Hinz, a professor of public law, political sociology, and sociology of law at the University of Bremen. Hinz provided on-the-ground support in designing the Namibian legal system and in establishing the law faculty at the University of Namibia. This was the foundation for the long and intensive relationship not only between the State of Namibia and the City of Windhoek with the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, but also for many personal friendships – including with Sam Nujoma.
Through the Namibia Project, which is based at the University of Bremen, the university also had the opportunity to make an academic contribution to the work of the United Nations Namibia Institute, which was founded in Lusaka (Zambia) in 1976. President Nujoma's special interest in the project's contributions in the fields of education and law was both significant and groundbreaking.
Finally, in 1996, Sam Nujoma visited Bremen and, together with Henning Scherf, unveiled a plaque on the elephant statue, which had been rededicated as an anti-colonial monument, commemorating the victims of German colonial rule in Namibia. During this visit, he was made an honorary senator of the University of Bremen.
