Recognised for her outstanding contribution to science, engineering and technology at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and South Africa, Dr Nokuthula Mavela has been nominated for the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards.
Dr Mavela works in the Student Support Development Unit under the Centre for Excellence in Learning at Teaching (CELT) at the DUT and is also pursuing her PhD in Health Sciences under the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University.
Speaking about her nomination, Dr Mavela who is also a qualified Homeopath revealed that she was nominated by Professor Keolebogile Motaung, Director: Technology, Transfer and Innovation at DUT. She explained that Prof Motaung nominated her in recognition of the company she founded called Ewah Cosmeceuticals that produces therapeutic personal care products made from cosmetic, grade food sourced raw ingredients, medicinal plants through the use of indigenous knowledge systems and the recycling and repurposing of suitable food waste as an environmentally conscious and friendly zero-waste company. She has completed the nomination form from NSTF as part of stage 2 and the final stage for the award process.
“Our products range from skin care, hair care and nail care to managing common skin, hair and nail conditions as we uphold the sustainable development goal number 3 which is good health and well-being for all, as well as sustainable development goal 12 for responsible consumption and production. Our key focus is on bio-identical, bio-compatible and increased bio-availabity of activities in our products. We also make use of existing technologies such as micro-current and radio frequency to enhance product assimilation. As part of our growth plan we are working on improving these existing technologies in collaboration with Dr Rane and Mr Olusanya from the Mechanical Engineering Department as well as Mr Isaiah Adeyemo an alumnus of the Electrical Engineering Department at DUT,” explained Dr Mavela.
Dr Mavela is nominated for the category: Innovations and their Research and/or Development by teams, individuals or organisations as a corporate organisation.
Professor Sibusiso Moyo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement at DUT, echoed that as part of the ENVISION2030 perspective on Stewardship, DUT celebrates the excellent work that its innovators and researchers do.
“One of the ways of recognising excellence and promoting our female scientists and innovators is through nominations for various competitive awards. I therefore thank Prof Motaung our Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Director for taking the lead and ensuring our nominees are better prepared to present themselves for such nominations. We obviously wish Dr Mavela and other nominees the best outcomes,” Prof Moyo said.
Prof Motaung said it is important for her as the TTI Director at DUT to know all the researchers so when there is a call for nominations, she directly informs the researcher that has the potential to win the award. She added that being nominated for these prestigious awards is an achievement on its own and is confident that Dr Mavela will come out tops.
Regarding her confidence on scooping this award, Dr Mavela said the recognition alone for the work they are trying to do as a company by addressing common skin, nail and hair conditions with the use of cosmeceuticals, which are personal care products with a therapeutic index and pharmaceutical action, is a great honour.
“Bringing the award home to DUT will definitely be a huge success for the institution that has birthed this company. I did my undergraduate and Masters at DUT and qualified as a Homeopath in 2016, graduating as the head of department and the department’s choice for overall best final year student. Subsequently in 2017, I was nominated and awarded the Golden Key International Honorary Society membership upon being recognised as part of the top 15% high performing students at DUT,” Dr Mavela said.
The hard-working Dr Mavela also revealed that in 2021 with a team comprised of five other members from Pharos University Alexandria, University of the Arts and University of Sadat City in Egypt, they had won 1st prize in the Intra-Africa 2063 competition. She also participated in the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement’s online exhibition for research and entrepreneurship and she was selected as one of the winners in 2021 as well.
Highlighting what this nomination means to her and DUT, Dr Mavela reiterated that DUT has taken a profound stance in driving entrepreneurship amongst staff and students and it truly will be a reflection of the tremendous work that the institution has put in. She said to see their very own bring this award home will be an honour.
“As a burn survivor my prognosis was set at 6 to12 months hospitalisation due to incurring full thickness 3rd degree burns a day before leaving home for University in 2007. I knew I needed to stimulate my own body to heal and the realisation that complementary and alternative approaches may improve my condition and hasten the healing process in conjunction with orthodox approaches and so my passion for complementary and alternative medicine was sparked. Needless to say, I was discharged within two months and 11 days much to the surprise of hospital staff as I incorporated complementary and alternative products as part of my treatment and management approach. For me this was a revelation that as Africans we ought to invest in our indigenous medical practices and validate them through scientific evidence for them to be integrated into the public health care sector. I believe health care professionals can bridge this gap,” said Dr Mavela while giving background information on her love for homeopathy.
According to Dr Mavela, social entrepreneurship should be encouraged for communities to identify their challenges and create innovative approaches to manage these challenges in a profitable manner. For her, the experience was being a facial and body burn victim and survivor, where she turned a tragic incidence into a profitable experience.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank DUT management and the Innobiz office for all that they have facilitated and afforded me as a young female entrepreneur to be recognised as a nominee at such a prestigious stage of the NSTF awards. A special mention to Prof Moyo our DVC RIE, Prof Motaung our TTI Director and Prof Nokuthula Sibiya our DVC T&L who have exemplified that women are a force to be reckoned with as professionals in academia, science and entrepreneurship. Prof Gugu Mchunu, the executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof Ashley Ross and Prof Firoza Haffejee for their support. Ms Nonhlanhla Khanyile and Ms Ntokozo Ngcobo from DUT Innobiz for their mentorship, Mr Ramnath Dilrajh from the Biotechnology and Food Technology department for the skills training and Dr Stanley Onwubu a co-collaborator,” added Dr Mavela.
Dr Mavela emphasised that there is a need for young people to play a pivotal role in economic recovery and growth through entrepreneurship and develop their continent as a financially stable and lucrative global contender in business.
Pictured: Dr Nokuthula Mavela
Simangele Zuma
