adminTanaka Mahanya
TAKE a bow for Jobert Ngwenya.
The trailblazing Eveline Girls High School teacher has scooped the Integrity Icon People’s Choice award.
The global gong ‘‘names and fames’’ public servants who display exemplary integrity and make heroes out of ordinary people doing the right thing.
Ngwenya said the award will open a lot of opportunities for him.
“Initially, I wanted to be a social worker, but now that I have been recognised in the teaching profession, it gives me the motivation that what I am doing is impactful.
“This has opened more opportunities for me within the education space, and even outside the education space for professional development opportunities.
“In as much as I am thrilled to have won the award, I couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of those around me, at work, my family and a whole lot of others.
“This award is a testament to the values we should all hold dear to as we work every day to promote integrity, honesty and accountability.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing support group, and above all, who can be against us if God is on our side.”
Ngwenya said he was nominated for the award by his former student, Ruvimbo Tashaya.
“These awards are an indicator that someone out there is watching what I am doing.
“I am humbled that some people out there feel I have positively contributed to their growth.
“We might not be respected the way teachers were 15-20 years ago, but the fact that there are individuals, who can still stand and recognise me as an educator, encourages me to wake up every day to go to work.
“I have had awards before, but they were associated with my participation in sports as an administrator but I have since redirected my focus more on entrepreneurship education and other projects.
“I developed this instinct that teachers have a great role to play in child development, and I will continue to use my God-given talent to contribute to entrepreneurship education which I feel develops a development-oriented student,” he said.
The awards, which Ngwenya has won in the past, are — Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Fellowship (2021), Teach a Man to Fish’s Teacher Advisory Panelist (2019), Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Foundation Fellow (2019), Mandela Washington Fellowship Alternate Nominee (2020), Junior Achievement Zimbabwe National Chaperone Award 2019 and 2021, and the Bulawayo Arts Awards Outstanding Educator Nominee (2019).
Online Reporter