Dr Moleboheng Mokhele, a senior lecturer and researcher at South Africa's North-West University (NWU), has transformed her personal desire to help her children learn into a groundbreaking educational innovation. Initially trained in plant pathology and microbiology, Mokhele shifted her focus to education, earning a PhD in natural sciences education. Her journey began when her two young sons experienced speech and language delays, prompting her to explore how children learn through play, images, and everyday experiences.
Mokhele's research focuses on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) more accessible to young children. Her work led to the development of Renewable Rangers, an educational game introducing children to STEM, renewable energy, sustainability, and problem-solving through play. The innovation is now moving towards commercialization, with Mokhele establishing WARINOVA (Pty) Ltd, an innovation company focused on "Innovating Africa's sustainable future". Plans are also underway for a digital version, Renewable Rangers Africa.
The transition from academic research to entrepreneurship has required Mokhele to navigate unfamiliar territory, including intellectual property, manufacturing, pricing, and sustainable business models. NWU's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, including initiatives like Entrepreneurship@NWU and the bhive Enterprise Development Centre, has provided crucial support in turning research into a viable enterprise.
Mokhele's entrepreneurial journey gained momentum at the 2026 Standard Bank Top Women Conference in Johannesburg, where she was invited to join the Graça Machel Trust's Women Creating Wealth programme. This opportunity encouraged Mokhele to consider the business potential of her work and explore further training to strengthen her entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.
Mokhele's experience demonstrates the potential for university research to move beyond academic publications and become practical solutions. With suitable support, such solutions can develop into sustainable enterprises. NWU plays a significant role in connecting personal motivation, academic knowledge, and entrepreneurial support, enabling meaningful innovation to grow into solutions serving wider communities.
The potential impact of Mokhele's work includes introducing more children to STEM from an early age, providing teachers with new learning tools, and encouraging young people to see sustainability and innovation as part of everyday life. Her story reflects the role NWU plays in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, showcasing the potential for simple questions to grow into solutions serving wider communities.
Mokhele's journey shows a clear purpose – understanding and supporting how children learn – which led to research, inspired an educational innovation, and is now shaping a business with ambitions beyond the university. Her work has the potential to benefit young learners across Africa, and her experience serves as an example of the impact that can be achieved when personal motivation, academic knowledge, and entrepreneurial support come together.
Key points
- Dr Mokhele's work has the potential to introduce more children to STEM from an early age.
- NWU's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem has provided crucial support for Mokhele's venture.
- Mokhele's experience demonstrates the potential for university research to become practical solutions and sustainable enterprises.
