Receiving an accolade from the highest office in the land certainly ranks as one of the most ultimate achievements anyone could ever wish for. It is also a firm validation of one’s contribution to a worthy national cause. And this how Dr Hlamalani Judith Ngwenya felt when she was recently bestowed with a national order by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the august presidential guest house at the Union Buildings in Tshwane. The orders are conferred to citizens deemed to have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and who made a significant impact to improve the lives of South Africans.
Order of the Baobab
Dr Ngwenya was honoured with the Order of the Baobab in recognition of her work in a sustainable agriculture and community empowerment. The Order of the Baobab is one of six national orders and it recognises citizens who contributed to community service, business and the economy, science and technological innovation. She says she was completely taken by surprise when the office of the president made contact with her and officially informed her that she will be honoured with the award.
Story of her life
“This is a lifetime achievement, which I receive with humility and honour and will guard with integrity. A baobab tree is significantly big and very visible. This award for me is as big as the baobab tree,” said Dr Ngwenya, in reaction to receiving the award. She says the strength, magnitude and stature of the tree reflects and symbolises the story of her life.
“Today I am being celebrated like a baobab [tree]. For me, the true celebration goes to the many people at local, national, and global level across the 50 countries that I have worked with in the past 30 years. This is significant for them too,” says, Dr Ngwenya
Capacity-building passion
Dr Ngwenya, whose career span 30 years, was recognised for displaying passion in capacity building, sustainable agriculture and community empowerment. A qualified teacher by training, she says capacity building has always been her passion and she wanted to pursue a career that would enable her to fulfil it.
Dr Ngwenya lectured in the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture at the University of the Free State (UFS) between 2015 and July 2021. She taught advanced diploma on extension for sustainability and the master’s programme on sustainable agriculture and extension: theory and practice.
Diverse skills
Dr Ngwenya believes knowledge is a powerful commodity and this is why she deliberately invested in and equipped herself with a set of diverse skills. For instance, in the last two decades she was involved in a number of different forms of capacity building through activities such as:
- lecturing 21st century skills development
- organisational development
- change management and strategic planning
- facilitating systemic change and policy dialogues and
- moderating high-level multi-stakeholder engagements globally.
Dr Ngwenya says agriculture was never on her bucket list of careers she thought of pursuing when she was growing up. Ironically, it has become a sector she understands and enjoys working in. Dr Ngwenya also a policy expert and a researcher having supported policy processes as well as working with policy makers in the United Nations and African Union.
Understanding and appreciation
“I have also done work in the research and education space; with farmers and financing institutes; with extension and advisory services; as well as on issues pertaining to technology and trade,” says Dr Ngwenya. She adds that: “It was through these practical engagements that I began to understand and appreciate the broadness and diverse nature of the agricultural sector.”
Dr Ngwenya has just assumed a new position as chief director: agricultural producer support and development in the Western Cape. She subscribes to the principles of sustainable agriculture that put emphasis on profit, people and the planet. This entails striking a good balance between gain (profit), while preserving the environment (planet) and ensuring the social aspects (people) are properly taken care of.
