Visionary youth champion to address Unisa’s Innovation Festival

Join Noxolo Fani, a passionate and award-winning entrepreneur dedicated to business excellence and empowering South Africa's youth, as she presents her unique take on young entrepreneurship and innovation during the Unisa Innovation Festival.

The Innovation Festival takes place from 18 to 20 November at the university’s Florida, Muckleneuk and Sunnyside Campuses.

Attendees can expect a diverse array of activities, including engaging poster presentations, immersive exhibitions, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of Unisa’s state-of-the-art laboratories. The Crucible and Forge innovation pitching sessions will spotlight bold ideas and entrepreneurial energy, while the Postgraduate Student Showcase will highlight emerging research and fresh academic perspectives from the next generation of scholars.

Date:                Thursday, 20 November 2025

Venue:             Enoch Sontonga Auditorium, Sunnyside Campus

Time:               10:00 – 13:00

Meet the speaker

“Empowering youth through entrepreneurship is not just about creating jobs – it’s about igniting dreams and transforming lives,” says Noxolo Fani.

Fani’s work spans multiple ventures in construction, education, and youth development, and she is committed to creating opportunities, nurturing talent, and inspiring the next generation to thrive in an ever-changing world.

She is the founder of Phenomenal Light Construction, a company that is more than just a provider of concrete solutions. It specialises in infrastructure preservation, ranging from concrete placement to repair, maintenance, and finishing, ensuring that structures stand the test of time. But her vision goes beyond the physical; she sees her business as a platform for social impact, particularly through the empowerment of youth in the communities where she operates. By offering training and employment to young people from neighbouring townships, she is working to address unemployment and foster community development.

Click here to view her biography.

* Submitted by the Directorate Research Support