As part of the flagship community engagement initiative of the North-West University (NWU), the bhive Enterprise Development Centre at the Vanderbijlpark Campus hosted 50 members of the Vaal United Business Forum (VUBF) for a transformative lecture on entrepreneurship.

Centred around the principles of asset-based community development (ABCD), the session was both practical and empowering – designed to equip local business leaders with tools to drive growth using resources they already possess.

The session forms part of an ongoing capacity-building programme by the bhive centre to support the VUBF in its efforts to uplift the regional business sector. The initiative is underpinned by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the NWU and the VUBF, formalising a partnership aimed at fostering inclusive economic development in the Vaal region.

The VUBF plays a pivotal role in the local economy and is an active participant in the community entrepreneurship ecosystem of the NWU. By investing in the development of its members, including young people, women and entrepreneurs living with disabilities. The NWU demonstrates its commitment to empowering the communities in which it is embedded.

The lecture brought together a diverse mix of VUBF members, including the executive committee, the Women’s Chapter and the Youth Chapter, to share in a learning experience that was both thought-provoking and action-oriented.

A follow-up community event is scheduled for Friday and will focus specifically on VUBF members with disabilities, reflecting the dedication of the NWU to equity and inclusion within its entrepreneurship programmes.
Adding weight to the event was the presence of Lester Mpolokeng, manager in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Mafikeng Campus of the NWU.

His attendance signalled institution-wide support for the mission of the bhive centre to be a bridge between academia and grassroots economic empowerment.

“This lecture is part of a structured programme led by the bhive Enterprise Development Centre to support the VUBF as one of our key community-based partners. Through models like ABCD, we are empowering communities to grow from within,” said Martin Manmohan,Entrepreneurship Ecosystem project manager at the NWU.

The bhive centre, known for its practical entrepreneurship support, business incubation and training workshops, continues to offer a platform where academia meets real-world enterprise.

The success of the lecture was best captured in the reflections of participants:

Among the VUBF members, we had a very special guest, Lizette van Lingen, the CEO of Org Con Global, who had this to say: “The lecture was amazing! Though I have been doing business for years, I learned things I had never thought about. It was a real eye-opener.”

“What I learned today, I am definitely going to incorporate into my business,” said Xolisile Nxumalo from the VUBF Youth Chapter.
“The programme was very helpful and informative. We hope we will get more of these. They are an eye-opener and the information will be useful in my business,” added Gugu Monama, another passionate VUBF entrepreneur.

“This lecture is just one part of a broader commitment by the NWU and the bhive Enterprise Development Centre to nurture a new generation of socially conscious, self-sufficient entrepreneurs who will drive development in their own communities,” said Manmohan.

He added that the university is proud to walk alongside the VUBF in building a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable local economy.