Nust student among top 50 shortlisted candidates for prestigious award

24-YEAR-OLD National University of Science and Technology (Nust) project management student, Mr Tafadzwa Chikwereti, has been named among the top 50 shortlisted candidates for the prestigious Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2023 that carries an award of US$100 000.

Mr Chikwereti was selected from more than 3 851 applications from 122 countries for the award that is given to one exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society.

The Varkey Foundation partnered with Chegg.org to launch the annual Global Student Prize in 2021, a sister award to its US$1 million Global Teacher Prize. The intention is to create a powerful new platform that shines a light on the efforts of extraordinary students who are reshaping the world for the better. It is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and are enrolled in an academic institution or are on training and skills programme.

From a poor background, Mr Chikwereti grew up on a small farm and witnessed firsthand the struggles his parents and other smallholder farmers faced, which inspired his determination when he got to school to research and draft ways to help his community to become better farmers.

Consulting various teachers and agriculture experts to gain more knowledge on the subject, Mr Chikwereti developed a keen interest in agribusiness and through expos and open days, developed a mini project linking farmers to markets via the online WhatsApp platform, which gave him further insight into the real problems they faced which included among others lack of access to knowledge and finance.

He brought together a team and founded the ‘eAgro’ platform that provides access to knowledge and finance to farmers, not only improving their yields but also allowing them to break out of the smallholder farmer trap.

To date, eAgro has grown from a mini-project to a company run by students that serves over 10 000 farmers in Zimbabwe, providing them with access to information on farming practices, crop management, and weather patterns. Access to finance enables them to invest in their farms and increase their yields, earn better prices for their produce, generate extra income and pay off fees.

This has had a ripple effect on their families and communities, contributing to poverty reduction and improving the overall standard of living while creating employment opportunities for young people in the community.

Mr Chikwereti has helped develop two mobile apps known as ‘Cropfix’ and ‘Credfarm’, geared towards promoting sustainable agriculture practices in the community and has won a string of awards for his innovations. He also helps his community by volunteering with the local Rotary Club on initiatives like supplying food banks with meals to help the vulnerable in times of crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are at a critical turning point as we face some of the greatest challenges in history. Students worldwide are keenly aware of this urgency and they are leveraging their ingenuity to overcome the significant obstacles facing them to build a better future for us all.

“Congratulations to Tafadzwa Chikwereti. Chegg not only celebrates your achievements but also the endless possibilities that exist when young minds are driven by a passion for change,” said the head of Chegg.org and chief communications officer Ms Heather Hatlo Porter.

“The Top 50 Global Student Prize finalists deserve the opportunity to have their stories told and have their voices heard. Their dreams, wisdom, and inventive spirit will illuminate a more hopeful future for everyone.”

Varkey Foundation founder Mr Sunny Varkey, in a statement, said Mr Chikwereti’s story is a testament to the crucial role that education plays in building a better world.

He said it is the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from war and conflict to climate change to growing inequality.
“As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is more important than ever to prioritise education so we can face the future with confidence,” said Mr Varkey.