#FirstwatchEntrepreneursChallenge: Ntokozo Nzima from eMbalenhle ends in Top 5
He is passionate about entrepreneurship and education.
eMBALENHLE – Mr Ntokozo Nzima (20), local entrepreneur, made it to the top five of the Firstwatch Entrepreneurs Challenge.
He was the youngest among the 100 selected budding entrepreneurs of small business owners, informal business owners and people who have a great idea and are trying to get a business off the ground.
He was invited to join a two-day Firstwatch Entrepreneurs Workshop during which they were taught essential hands-on business skills by some of South Africa’s leading business experts.
At the conclusion of the workshop, entrepreneurs were given the chance to pitch their business or business idea to a panel of judges and the top 10 were selected.
Mr Nzima impressed the judges and was selected for the top 10.
They then had to pitch to an audience who included a final panel of judges and successful entrepreneurs.
After his pitch, Mr Nzima made it to the top five and walked away with a corporate identity pack for his business and a Firstwatch Entrepreneurs Challenge jacket.
“I am grateful for the chance given to me and intend to put everything I learned in this challenge into practice.
“I am calling on young people to rise and do something for themselves instead of waiting for the government.
“We have what it takes to be successful, if we can just stop the blame shifting and take responsibility.
“It my own responsibility to succeed in life.”
Mr Nzima is a founder and CEO of Ignite Academic Solutions and is passionate about education.
His dream is helping students take their academics to the next level. He was born and raised in eMbalenhle and began his schooling at eMbalenhle Primary School.
He matriculated at Kiriyatswane Secondary School.
He is currently studying B.Com Information Systems at Wits.
Speaking about the Ignite Academic Solutions, Mr Nzima said he came up with the idea after completing his matric as after he was struggling to find a part time job in the retail industry.
He mobilised his friends and established an organisation, Ignite Academic Solutions, which is aimed at helping learners during the holidays with their academics.
“Rather than to sit at home and do nothing, I should help high school learners with their academics.
“I then approached my friends who are currently university students and asked them to join me.
Fortunately they supported my idea.
“This has helped me to discover my love and passion for teaching and learning.
“I am ready to pursue my dreams regardless of the challenges.”
Ignite Academic Solutions offer tutorials to high school learners during school holidays.
During classes they also have what they call an ‘Ignite Hour’ during which they talk about their life experiences.
“We also have a teacher who is mentoring and assisting us on how we can grow,” Mr Nzima concluded.
