Our researchers continue to receive national recognition for their impactful work across a wide range of disciplines. The North-West University (NWU) has five nominees for the 2025/2026 NSTF‑South32 Awards. This further affirms our standing as a contributor to excellence in science, engineering, technology and innovation in South Africa.
The NSTF‑South32 Awards, widely known as the country’s “Science Oscars”, represent the largest and most comprehensive national awards honouring outstanding contributions in science, engineering, technology and innovation. Now in its 28th year, the awards ceremony will take place on 16 July, with simultaneous events being held in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The 2026 theme, Healthy Ageing, aligns with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021 – 2030).
As the 2025/2026 NSTF‑South32 Awards approach, the achievements of our researchers reflect a strong culture of inquiry, leadership and impact. It underscores the presence of the university on the national science and innovation stage in South Africa.
The NWU nominees represent a range of prestigious award categories:
Prof. Olubukola Oluranti Babalola has been nominated for both the TW Kambule‑NSTF Award: Researcher, and in the Lifetime and Science Diplomacy category. She is a professor in the Food Security and Safety Focus Area and principal investigator of the Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. She also serves as vice-president of the World Academy of Sciences, Africa, and is an honorary member of the International Science Council in France.
Dr Mawethu Bilibana has been nominated for the NSTF Award: Researcher. He is a senior lecturer in the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
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Prof. Kgaugelo Lekota has been nominated for the TW Kambule‑NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher, and in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category. He is an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
Dr Moleboheng Mokhele has been nominated for the TW Kambule‑NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher. She is a senior lecturer in the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in the Faculty of Education.
Prof. Jaco Hoffmann has been nominated for the Science Diplomacy for Africa Award, and also in the special annual theme category: Healthy Ageing. He is co‑director of the International Longevity Centre South Africa, professor of Socio‑Gerontology in the Optentia Research Unit, lead of the Ageing and Generational Dynamics in Africa programme, and a professorial fellow at the Institute of Population Ageing at the University of Oxford. He also coordinates the African Research on Ageing Network.
