O’kgabile Mokoena, a final-year LLB student at the North-West University (NWU), has been selected as a 2025 recipient of the distinguished Abe Bailey Travel Bursary.

This highly competitive award recognises young South African leaders who embody academic excellence, civic engagement and the commitment to drive positive change in society.

The bursary offers recipients the opportunity to participate in a three-week educational tour of the United Kingdom (UK). During the tour, participants engage in cultural exchange, leadership discussions and visits to historically and politically significant institutions.

O’kgabile will be leaving for London on 27 November 2025 as part of a group of high-performing students from around the country.

However, it was not just smooth sailing. Her initial application for an Abe Bailey bursary was unsuccessful.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get past the final round of the applications. It really broke my heart, but made me realise that I needed to rethink my approach to community work. That was my final push towards becoming a pageant queen, specifically Miss TMA (Taahirah Modelling Academy). I knew this would give me the platform to make a wider-reaching impact."

As Miss TMA Ambassador, she is a role model for young girls in the Mahikeng community and an advocate for food justice. O’kgabile is the founder of SoulFood, an e-movement that tackles hunger in and around Mahikeng and promotes awareness of food insecurity.

Her community-spirited approach is also evident in her contribution as an NWU student, student leader and volunteer. She tutors fellow law students in Property Law as a supplemental instructor, volunteers with the South African Human Rights Commission and participates in the Green Rising campaign of the United Nations Children’s Fund.

As she prepares for her UK journey, O’kgabile remains focused on her mission. “This bursary is not a destination, but a platform. I hope to return home with deeper insight and a renewed sense of what it means to lead with heart, diligence and community.”

While overseas, she says she will be representing the NWU, the TMA, and the young girls she works with and the city of Mahikeng. “I know that I carry the hopes and dreams of all these people as I travel.”

The NWU congratulates O’kgabile on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes her a rewarding and inspiring journey abroad. Her selection is a testament to the university’s commitment to nurturing globally minded graduates who lead with integrity, vision and purpose.

O’kgabile Mokoena