Entrepreneurship Takes Spotlight During US Embassy Visit to UNIZULU

The University of Zululand (UNIZULU) Internationalisation Office recently hosted the US Embassy at the KwaDlangezwa Campus. In attendance were Jaclyn Cole, Public Diplomacy Officer (U.S. Consulate General Durban); Frank Whitaker, Country Public Affairs Officer (U.S. Embassy Pretoria); and Susan Knowles (U.S. Consulate General Durban). 

The purpose of the engagement was for UNIZULU to showcase how it is infusing indigenous knowledge into its curriculum. This was presented by representatives of the departments of Consumer Science, Botany and Zoology under the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. There was an array of speakers that presented their entrepreneurial ideas in this gathering. 

The director in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Professor Nontokozo Mashiya, opened by welcoming the guests and all the attendees at the gathering. “To our guests from the US Embassy, Dean of Science, members of the University and the entire house at large, you are welcome. We are happy that you are here with us today. Enjoy and make yourself feel at home,” Prof Mashiya said.

Sbongakonke Fanyana Mncube, a second-year BCom Accounting Science student who is passionate about entrepreneurship, was one of the presenters. Mncube was among the group of students and staff that visited Appalachian State University, United States in 2022. He therefore shared on his experience during the visit and what he learnt about entrepreneurship. 

He also spoke about his new business idea. He stated: “AdEveryWhere is an innovative advertising platform that utilises premium spring water as a new type of advertising medium while prioritising philanthropy and sustainability. Every R1 from each beverage will be donated to charity to help build water tanks for people in need. We only need 30% of South Africans to choose AdEveryWhere so we can solve the global water crisis permanently.”

When presenting, Prof Innocent Moyo, the acting deputy dean of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (FSAE), mentioned several research studies and projects he is currently working on with his colleagues, students and community around the University. He boasted that UNIZULU students are representing the institution abroad. He further mentioned that effective January 2023, FSAE will accept abstracts that are written in both English and IsiZulu. This is in line with the University’s “A Node for African Thought” tag line and ensuring that Africanism is maintained. 

At the close of the meeting, Prof Mashiya thanked everyone who had attended, thereafter emphasising that the Internationalisation Office had adopted a new strategy which is championing the notion of Africanisation and digitalisation. “On my side, I want to say I am really happy to see that we have achieved the objectives of the project that is funded by the US Embassy and I want to thank you for coming and also to see what we are doing. Thank you very much,” she said. 

-Mbuyiselo Mlaba