“VUT’s Management Sciences Faculty, Upriver and Hippo honoured the second cohort of Africa’s Small Business Management graduates at Pont de Val in a night of worship and testimonies”
02 December 2025 | Story by: Qhawekazi Memani | Picture by: Keitumetse Mokgope
4 minutes read time.
On 26 November 2025, the elegant riverside setting of Pont de Val was transformed into a sacred space as the Vaal University of Technology’s Faculty of Management Sciences hosted the Small Business Management and Community Development Programme (SBMCDP) certificate ceremony. Presented in collaboration with Upriver Developments and generously funded by Hippo Mundo Charity, the event honoured graduates from Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.
What unfolded felt less like a formal gathering and more like a covenant. Every speaker, student and partner returned to the same themes: faith, purpose, impact and the promise of Africa’s future. The atmosphere shimmered with a rare combination of elegance and reverence, the kind of day that made guests lean in and whisper, “I am witnessing history.”
Professor Gauda Maseko, Head of the Department of Accountancy, set the tone when he described the ceremony as a “renewal of vows”, a “till death do us part” commitment between VUT, Upriver Developments and the youth of Africa. “Everyone who invests in the youth invests in the future,” he said, affirming that these certificates are not mere documents, but instruments that God will use to confront the continent’s most pressing challenges through the University’s pillar of impact.
In his address, the Executive Dean of Management Sciences, Professor Chengedzai Mafini, reflected on how the programme has grown since its beginnings in 2023 into a rigorous, theory and practice-based journey that equips unemployed young adults to start and manage small businesses in their home countries. He announced plans to expand the programme into advanced marketing and other specialised streams from 2026, drawing warm applause as guests realised, they were witnessing the emergence of something far greater than a short learning intervention.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Khehla Ndlovu, encouraged the graduates to rise as African changemakers. Hippo Mundo Charity representative, Mr Leon Fourie, drew from Jeremiah 29:11, reminding them that God’s plans are rooted in hope and a future. He urged the cohort to embrace courage, perseverance and wisdom as they sow into themselves, their communities and their churches.
The atmosphere shifted into a reverent silence as testimonies began. Speaking on behalf of the cohort, Kenyan graduate Mr Kevin Shisekana offered profound gratitude to God, the South African government, Hippo Mundo Charity, Upriver Developments and VUT. Drawing from Nelson Mandela’s words, he affirmed that the SBMCDP had transformed education into a living weapon for change. He vowed that the graduates would be “agents of change”, calling on his peers to build Africa in the spirit of Ubuntu, peace, integrity and love. Reflecting on the parable of the talents, he asked quietly, “Which servant are you going to be?”, a question that lingered long after he stepped down.
The second testimony, delivered by Cameroonian graduate Ms Nicole Fidjo, was gentle yet powerful. Radiating joy, she described the day as “special”, not an ending, but “a beginning in a world full of many possibilities”. She framed the certificates as God opened doors leading to new responsibilities and ventures that will resonate beyond their own lives.
Threaded through the programme was a soundscape that felt like heaven meeting earth. The BCC Africa Choir, composed of the very graduates being honoured, lifted the room with African praise songs including “Umoja”, “Hakuna Nkosi” and “Sekunjalo”. Their harmonies transformed Pont de Val into a house of worship, rising from soft gratitude to jubilant praise. Every chorus felt like a collective “Look at God!”, a prophetic soundtrack over the futures of Africa’s young entrepreneurs.
During the acknowledgements, DVC for Teaching and Learning, Dr Grace Kanakana Katumba, celebrated the shared strength of collaboration between VUT, Upriver Developments, Hippo Mundo Charity and the University’s internal teams. She described their efforts as seeds planted in the soil of Africa’s youth, destined to bear fruit for generations.
Surrounded by voices, stories and hopes from seven African nations, with their flags illuminating the screens, the ceremony became more than a celebration. It felt like a continental family gathering where faith, education and purpose converged, an unforgettable testament to what Africa becomes when its youth are empowered to rise.