A surprise laptop was more than a new piece of technology for North-West University (NWU) student Owami Mbedu. It was another sign that the people funding her studies believe in her future.
Owami, who is enrolled in the extended BCom in logistics management with statistics programme, received the laptop during an engagement between the NWU and The Kuehne + Nagel Inzuzo Trust at the Mahikeng Campus on 23 September 2026.
NWU fundraiser Balisa Mancayi organised the meeting with the trust representatives, Louis Mthembu and Jehudi Molefi. She thanked the trust representatives for making time to visit the campus and engage with the university and its funded student.
The visit also allowed the two organisations to discuss their partnership and explore ways to increase the number of NWU students supported by the trust.
Campus chief director Jim Molautsi welcomed the representatives and said the university valued its growing relationship with the trust.
“We are pleased to collaborate with the Kuehne + Nagel Inzuzo Trust, and we hope the relationship we have built will be long-lasting,” said Jim.
He highlighted the financial challenges facing many students and said that about 98% of students at the Mahikeng Campus rely on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). He encouraged the trust to consider supporting more students who need financial assistance.
“With the 2027 bursary applications now open, we will encourage our students to apply, particularly those who need this support the most,” he said.
Louis said the trust focuses mainly on supporting black female students at undergraduate level. It has funded more than 70 students and considers their wider circumstances when providing support.
“Our support is not only about academic needs,” he said. “We look at the student’s background, the financial need and other areas where support may be required.”
Since 2024, four female NWU students have received bursary funding from the trust. Owami is the NWU student funded by the trust in 2026 and receives a full-cost bursary.
Jehudi said supporting students requires more than paying for their studies. Building relationships with beneficiaries and paying attention to their well-being are also important. “It is a privilege for us to be here,” she said. “Our relationship with the students is very important. We also need to look after their well-being because we know that campus life can be challenging.”
For Owami, that commitment became tangible when she received her laptop. “I was honestly overwhelmed with gratitude when I was surprised with the laptop,” she said. “The heaviest burden for me had been tuition and having that burden lifted off my shoulders already meant so much to me. Receiving the laptop therefore felt like the cherry on top.”
She said the bursary has allowed her to focus more on her studies instead of worrying about finances. “It has given me a sense of relief and stability, allowing me to put more energy into my academic goals,” she said.
Owami hopes to build a career that combines logistics and statistics. She also wants her journey to encourage other young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. “I want them to understand that their circumstances do not have to determine how far they can go,” she said.
For Owami, the bursary and laptop are opportunities she intends to turn into something bigger, a successful career and, eventually, a chance to help other young women pursue their own ambitions.
Photo: From left are campus chief director Jim Molautsi, senior fundraiser Balisa Mancayi, trust representative Jehudi Molefi, student Owami Mbedu, trust representative Louis Mthembu, and Motlalepula Setumisho, manager of NWU Student Accounts and Bursaries.
