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23 November 2022
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Story André Damons
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Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, Professor and Director of Pharmacology, will play host to the various stakeholders to network and share knowledge on current developments in indigenous knowledge research and product development, biodiversity, innovation, and commercialisation of the IK-based research products. The Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) for Health unit in the Department of Pharmacology within the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences was last year awarded an annual Technology Innovation Agency Platform (TIA) grant of R17 million for the next five years.
The research and teaching programme in the School of Clinical Medicine has since been rebranded and is now known as the African Medicines Innovation and Technology Development Platform (AMITD), which will strive to respond to community health needs and address industry research needs and challenges.
The indaba will showcase progress made by TIA and other entities in enriching the development and commercialisation of IK-based innovations. It will take place from 24 to 25 November 2022 in the Equitas Senate Hall at the UFS.
Prof Matsabisa is the chairperson of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicines for COVID-19. He is also a visiting professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) in Beijing, China, and the Deputy President of the South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology.
Vusi Thembekwayo enthrals Kovsies
2016-08-18
Vusi Thembekwayo delivered an impressive
lecture at UFS
Kovsies students and aspiring entrepreneurs who attended Vusi Thembekwayo’s Like a Boss: Show me the Money lecture will certainly agree that he is indeed the “Rockstar of public speaking”.
Through his sublime oratory skills, blended with flagrant humour, the seasoned serial entrepreneur captivated the capacity audience at the University of the Free State’s EBW Auditorium.
The lecture’s main purpose was for the 31-year-old - who has already achieved immense success in business - to offer valuable business advice and financial literacy. And he did just that.
Thembekwayo explained how innovation has always been driven by necessity. He also mentioned why he believes black people were struggling to build or grow sustainable businesses in the country.
“There is no black capital in SA. There are no schools to teach black people how to start businesses,” Thembekwayo said.
He said black people often opted out of their societal problems in spite of being conscious of them. This was a reference to the visible trend of black people who pursue success for their own personal enrichment.
For the country to solve these problems, amongst many others, Thembekwayo stressed that a labour absorptive economy, which also creates entrepreneurial opportunities, is essential.
Mechanical engineer and World Economic Forum (WEF) Innovator of the Year Award recipient, Nneile Nkholise and Dr Johan van Zyl, from the UFS Centre for Development Support were guest speakers at the event.