The name Nomhle Ngwenya might not be nationally recognized but she is well known at Wits University.

That is because she is the youngest science PhD graduate from the institution and her story is a remarkable one.

Ngwenya always had a love for science from a tender age and she knew what she wanted to study at university.

 

 

At just 25 years old, she became the youngest academic to obtain a PhD in science. She was also the first black woman to jump straight from an honours programme to a PhD in the history of Wits.

That achievement made her a star on campus and she is undoubtedly an inspiration to many young South African women.

She worked hard for her PhD and she adamant that it will open great doors for her in the future.

Before her, the title of the youngest PhD graduate across all faculties at Wits was awarded to a 23-year-old student in the field of medicine in the early 2000s, according to Wits senior communications specialist Buhle Zuma.

Ngwenya spoke to a local publication and she spoke about her passion for science and how it spurred her on.

She also added that she found geography very fascinating as it detailed the core of our environment.

“Geography is such a multidisciplinary subject. It’s not just climate change, but economic development, society and more. You get everything in one component. That’s why I enjoyed geography even from my high school days,” she said.

She went on to add that university students should not be comfortable with obtaining a degree but they should pursue their studies further.