From Night Shifts to Graduation Day: NUST Security Officer Earns Criminal Justice Qualification
On 08 May 2025, Erastus Ndjamba stood tall among hundreds of graduates at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) May Graduation. Clad in a gown instead of his usual security uniform, he stood with pride, marking the end of a long and challenging journey, and the beginning of a new chapter.
Erastus joined NUST in 2017 as a security officer, employed by Namibia Protect Services. While on duty, he often watched students his age heading to class, a daily reminder of his own long-held dream to study. “It stirred something in me,” he recalled. “I always believed I would one day complete my studies.”
Driven by that belief, Erastus enrolled in a Bachelor’s programme in Criminal Justice, a field aligned with his day-to-day work and his values of peace, justice, and discipline. Juggling his full-time duties with lectures was no easy task. He often relied on colleagues to stand in for him, sometimes waiting over an hour before being relieved. Financial struggles also threatened to derail his progress, but he pressed on with determination and faith.
Throughout his studies, he was supported by a network of colleagues, friends, and academic staff. Figures such as Ms Rachel Amundaba, Mr Chris, Prof Swama, and Mr Joseph Gandanhamo from the Centre for Teaching and Learning were instrumental in helping him stay the course. At one point, when he was unable to register due to outstanding fees, it was his colleagues who stepped in and paid on his behalf.
“This achievement reminds me of every late shift, every day in uniform, and every sacrifice,” he said. “But it also reminds me that I made it!”
Erastus now hopes to pursue further studies and contribute meaningfully to Namibia’s justice system. His message to others in support roles is simple but powerful: “When your mind is made up, nothing is impossible. Keep going and never stop believing.”
