Unisa’s Inhlanyelo Hub: Driving innovation and empowering entrepreneurs

Unisa’s Inhlanyelo Hub NPC stands as a beacon of innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing its mission to drive African innovation, ignite sustainable entrepreneurship, and grow sustainable businesses. Since its inception in 2023, the Hub has achieved remarkable milestones that reflect its unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, enterprise, and community empowerment.

Through initiatives such as the Drone Divas Programme, Bosadi Fashion Design Business Start-up Programme, and Creative Media Start-up Initiative, Inhlanyelo Hub has created new economic opportunities, generating jobs and transforming lives. To date, 40 women drone pilots have entered the drone economy through this programme, either by securing gainful employment or applying their drone licenses in existing positions. Currently, six women drone pilots have founded businesses in the drone industry and continue to receive business coaching and incubation support from Inhlanyelo Hub — living proof of the Hub’s mission to promote socio-economic upliftment through skills development and job creation. Small businesses have also been founded by beneficiaries who completed the Fashion Design Business Start-up Programme and are already bringing their designs to market. 

In addition, the Hub provides ongoing business support to more than 42 start-ups, nurturing their growth and long-term sustainability. This investment in emerging ventures has helped build a thriving ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship that aligns with Unisa’s broader vision of impactful community engagement and transformation. Each milestone underscores the Hub’s dedication to advancing African innovation through sustainable entrepreneurship—and its vision to empower communities through opportunity, creativity, and technology.

Among the many success stories emerging from Inhlanyelo Hub is that of Happiness Godora, a Unisa graduate and qualified teacher who is transforming how learners experience STEM education. As the founder of Edu Drones and STEM Events, Godora integrates drone technology into classrooms to make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) interactive and inspiring. Her goal is to ignite curiosity and expand future career opportunities in aviation and technology—particularly among young learners across South Africa.

Another success story from the Inhlanyelo Hub is that of Khuliswa Mazizi, a supply chain strategist by profession and the innovative founder and CEO of Tano Lemon, trading as Kusta’s Kitchen. Born and bred in the Eastern Cape, Khuliswa is leading the way in the development of functional meals and drinks made with native African ingredients from her base at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. Her work represents a blend of science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship—demonstrating how locally inspired innovations can compete in global markets while promoting health and wellness rooted in African heritage.

Professor Raphael Mpofu, CEO of Inhlanyelo Hub at Unisa, affirmed the Hub’s transformative role in empowering individuals and communities: “Our programmes empower participants to transform creativity into opportunity. They address pressing challenges such as youth unemployment and gender inequality while unlocking women’s potential in the creative and technology-driven economy.”

As Unisa’s entrepreneurship and innovation engine, Inhlanyelo Hub NPC continues to shape Africa’s future through technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship—one transformative story at a time. With the support of visionary partners, the Hub aims to expand its reach, scale its impact, and unlock even greater opportunities for emerging innovators to drive sustainable growth, empower communities, and build the future of African enterprise. For more information on Inhlanyelo Hub and its programmes, visit inhlanyelohub.com/en