President Bola Tinubu has honoured the legacy of Namibia’s founding president, Dam Shafiishuna Nujoma, describing him as a warrior, nation-builder, and symbol of Africa’s fight for freedom.
Speaking at Nujoma’s state burial on Saturday at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek, Namibia, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, highlighted the late leader’s pivotal role in Namibia’s independence and his enduring influence on the African continent.
“We have not come to this sacred ground to bury a man. We have come to enshrine a legacy,” President Tinubu declared in his tribute.
“Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma was not just the founding father of a nation that needed a hero; he was a warrior in the age of chains. He looked into the face of oppression in the most dangerous time to do so and declared that no African shall ever be a second-class citizen on his own soil.”
Nujoma, who passed away on February 8, 2025, at the age of 95, was instrumental in leading Namibia to independence and laying the foundation for democracy and stability.
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President Tinubu praised his leadership, emphasising that his commitment to Namibia extended far beyond the liberation struggle.
“But even after victory, you did not rest. Independence was not the destination; it was only the beginning. You built this nation from the ashes of occupation. You turned resistance into governance, turned a dream into reality,” Tinubu stated.
The Nigerian leader also reaffirmed the historic bond between Nigeria and Namibia, stressing that Nigeria actively supported Namibia’s struggle against apartheid and colonial rule.
“Nigeria was not a bystander in the Namibian struggle. When the world turned its back, we stood. When your voice was drowned by the guns of apartheid, we spoke. When your hands were tied, we reached out.
“We did not do this as charity. We did not do this as a favour. We did this because your struggle was our struggle. Your pain was our pain. Your freedom was our freedom,” he said.
Tinubu assured the Namibian people of Nigeria’s continued solidarity, emphasising that the shared struggle between the two nations has formed the foundation of an unbreakable friendship.
“Namibia, you do not grieve alone. Africa grieves with you. The free world grieves with you. But more than that, we celebrate you. Because in this land, in this soil, we did not just lose a man. We gained a legend.”
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The state burial was attended by several African heads of state, including Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, and John Mahama of Ghana. Former presidents and diplomatic representatives from across the continent also paid their last respects.
The solemn event not only marked the passing of a revered leader but also reinforced Africa’s enduring commitment to unity, freedom, and justice—values that Nujoma championed throughout his life.
