Nickey Iyambo

Nickey Iyambo
1st Vice President of Namibia
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 March 2015
President	Hage Geingob
Minister of Veteran Affairs and Marginalised People
Incumbent
Assumed office March 2010
President	Hifikepunye Pohamba Hage Geingob
Preceded by	Ngarikutuke Tjiriange
Minister of Safety and Security
In office 8 April 2008 – March 2010
President	Hifikepunye Pohamba
Preceded by	Peter Tsheehama
Succeeded by	Nangolo Mbumba
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry
In office 30 March 2005 – 8 April 2008
President	Hifikepunye Pohamba
Succeeded by	John Mutorwa
Minister of Mines and Energy
In office 31 August 2002 – 30 March 2005
President	Sam Nujoma
Preceded by	Jesaya Nyamu
Succeeded by	Erkki Nghimtina
Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing
In office August 1996 – 31 August 2002
President	Sam Nujoma
Preceded by	Libertina Amathila
Minister of Health and Social Services
In office 21 March 1990 – August 1996
President	Sam Nujoma
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Libertina Amathila
Personal details
Born	20 May 1936 South West Africa
Nationality	Namibian
Political party	SWAPO
Children	4
Residence	Windhoek, Namibia
Alma mater	University of Helsinki, (Finland)
Occupation	Vice President of Namibia
Profession	Medical Doctor
Religion	Lutheran

Nickey Iyambo (born 20 May 1936) is a Namibian politician and physician who is the first and current Vice President of Namibia since 2015. A member of SWAPO, Iyambo has been a member of the Cabinet of Namibia since independence in March 1990. He was the Minister of Health and Social Services from 1990 to 1996, Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing from 1996 to 2002, Minister of Mines and Energy from 2002 to 2005, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry from 2005 to 2010,^[1] and he was Minister of Veterans Affairs in President Hifikepunye Pohamba's second Cabinet from 2010 to 2015. As Vice President, he continues to head the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.

Early life and education

Iyambo was born in Onayena, Oshikoto Region. He earned four separate degrees from University of Helsinki in Finland, beginning with a MSc in 1969. In 1970, he earned a MA in political science, a BA in medicine in 1974 and MD in medicine in 1980.^[2] During his time studying at the University of Helsinki, Iyambo was an active member of the Student Union and a representative of SWAPO at the University. His roommate at the university was current Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen.^[3]

Career

Iyambo was Namibia's first Black postmaster from 1962 to 1963 but fled into exile with SWAPO in 1964. He was amongst the earliest SWAPO members to go into exile and helped establish SWAPO's close relationship with Julius Nyerere's Tanzania.

Alongside President Hage Geingob, Iyambo was sworn in as Vice President of Namibia on 21 March 2015, becoming the first person to hold that title.^[4] As Vice President, he continues to head the Ministry of Veterans Affairs with two deputy ministers: Alexia Manombe-Ncube and Royal /Ui/o/oo.

Awards and honours

2011: On 18 March 2011 President of Finland Tarja Halonen conferred Iyambo the rank of Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland.^[5]

2014: On Heroes' Day 2014 he was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class.^[6]

References

1. Nickey Iyambo at Namibia Institute for Democracy
2. Suomen Lääkärit 1992, Suomen Lääkäriliitto, Helsinki, Finland
3. "Nickey Iyambo toi Afrikan vapautusliikkeet suomalaisten asialistalle". Ulkoasiainministeriö. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
4. Shinovene Immanuel and Theresia Tjihenuna, "Emotional transition", The Namibian, 23 March 2015.
5. "Ministeri Nickey Iyambolle myönnettiin Suomen Leijonan ritarikunnan 1. luokan komentajamerkki". Embassy of Finland in Windhoek. 13 April 2011.
6. "Namibians honoured by President". New Era. 28 August 2014.