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Voices from the Free State: Episode eight – featuring David Uwah

06 September 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Supplied

David Uwah’s journey in business, and his combination of industry and leadership insight internationally is considered valuable to any entrepreneur. As such, he is affiliated with several initiatives that focus on building young entrepreneurs.

François van Schalkwyk and Keenan Carelse, UFS alumni leading the university’s United Kingdom Alumni Chapter, have put their voices together to produce and direct the podcast series. Intended to reconnect alumni with the university and their university experience, the podcasts will be featured on the first Monday of every month, ending in November 2021. Our featured alumni share and reflect on their experiences at the UFS, how it has shaped their lives, and relate why their ongoing association with the UFS is still relevant and important. The podcasts are authentic conversations – they provide an opportunity for the university to understand and learn about the experiences of its alumni and to celebrate the diversity and touchpoints that unite them.

Listen to the podcast at

Our podcast guest

David Uwah is the founder and director of Zenncon Facility Management. A prominent businessman in South Africa and the greater part of Africa, Uwah is a consummate professional with strong business development skills, particularly in management, strategic planning, and marketing strategy. Uwah has successfully established Zenncon Facility Management to become an industry leader in South Africa.

A former chairman of Black Management Forum in the Free State, Uwah began his career at Firenze Consulting in London, UK. Uwah proceeded to Liberty Life as a financial adviser, followed by Cafenet Computers as director, and later became director of Brand New Afrika. He is also director of Zennfika Sahara Pty Ltd and is currently Chairman of the group of companies ZNND Group Pty Ltd. Uwah is a strong business development professional with a master’s degree focused on Disaster Management from the University of the Free State.

For further information regarding the podcast series, or to propose other alumni guests, please email us at alumnipodcast@ufs.ac.za

For all Voices from the Free State podcasts, click here

News Archive

UFS appoints Dr Derek Swemmer as Registrar

2010-09-30

Dr Derek Swemmer

The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed Dr Derek Swemmer, current Registrar of the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), as its Registrar.

Dr Swemmer, who is currently recognised as one of the most experienced, competent and outstanding registrars in South Africa, will join the UFS as from 1 October 2010. He was Registrar at WITS since 1995.

“I am enthusiastic at the thought of working at the UFS under its new leadership and in a time of change. This appointment creates the opportunity for me to assess the many existing practices of the UFS and to seek to enhance these based on my own experience at WITS,” he said.

Dr Swemmer started his academic career as a part-time student assistant at the University of Pretoria (UP) in 1974. He also taught at the Christ’s Hospital Public School in the United Kingdom and was a full-time lecturer in the Department of English at the University of South Africa (UNISA) until he joined WITS as Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal in 1985.

Dr Swemmer holds a D Litt et Phil in English from the University of South Africa. He received numerous awards including the South African Golden Key International Honours Society Chapter Adviser of the Year in 2006 and 2008, an extraordinary second Certificate of Honour by the International Education Association of South Africa and the Golden Key International Leadership Council President’s Award.

Dr Swemmer chaired, amongst others, the WITS Issues Management Group and the WITS Crisis Committee; and was an Honorary Treasurer of the International Education Association of South Africa and an Honorary Secretary of the English Academy of Southern Africa.

He authored, co-authored and co-edited a number of text books, journals and magazines. He also delivered a number of papers at national and international conferences.

Dr Swemmer will be taking up the position as the single registrar of the UFS.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
29 September 2010

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