On Thursday, 4 September, it was an ordinary afternoon in the office of Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) — until her phone rang with an unexpected international call, flashing a US dial code (850), Tallahassee, Florida.
“Mbali, this is Dr Victor Ibeanusi. I have settled well from my Hungary trip. I had to call you personally.” Dr Ibeanusi, a globally respected environmental scientist and Executive Dean of the School of the Environment at Florida A&M University, had just come back from attending the prestigious EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit held in Budapest, Hungary’s capital city. Dr Ibeanusi founded the EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit more than a decade ago. Yet, instead of settling back into his schedule, his first order of business was a heartfelt call, not to discuss logistics or partnerships, but to recognise excellence.
“Your institution, MUT, made a lasting impression at the summit,” he began. “Professor Sibiya’s contribution; her scientific perspective, her community-rooted solutions — resonated deeply with international delegates.”
According to Dr Ibeanusi, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, MUT’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, stood out “not just for the rigour of her research, but for how she embodied the principles of transformative science: relevance, impact, and sustainability. Professor Sibiya’s focus on community-based approaches to energy, water, food, and climate issues positioned MUT as a serious voice in the global conversation around sustainability and development. She did not speak to the challenges,” he said. “She spoke from them — from lived experience, from community connection, and from academic credibility. It was powerful.”
The praise did not end with Professor Sibiya. Dr Ibeanusi was equally moved by the strength and professionalism of the entire MUT delegation. “They represented the spirit of innovation, humility, and future-focused African scholarship,” he noted. “They held their own among the world’s top institutions, and in many ways, they led. The team’s assertion showed a true African spirit as well.
“Their presence at the summit; coordinated, thoughtful, and deeply engaged — positioned MUT not just as a participant, but as a leader from the Global South, offering home-grown solutions to global problems.” Reflecting on the call, Mbali said, “I felt a deep sense of pride and appreciation for the MUT research getting recognised at a global scale. The 25 years of Dr Anette Mienie’s leadership in research have been an investment in the University and were clearly articulated for the world to see. This is a turning point in the history of MUT”. Dr Mienie is Acting DVC Research, Innovation, and Engagements (RIE). Dr Ibeanusi’s words affirm what MUT has always known — that MUT is full of excellence, often unsung but always present. And through leaders like Professor Sibiya and her acting DVC RIE, the world is beginning to see that.
Before ending the call, Dr Ibeanusi extended a gracious challenge: “This must be the beginning of something bigger. Let us continue the collaboration. Let us bring MUT’s voice even more prominently onto the global stage.”
Dr Ibeanusi also shared interest in inviting MUT to future summits, symposia, and thought-leadership meetings focused on climate justice, sustainability, and inclusive development — areas where MUT’s track record is steadily growing.
Professor Sibiya and her team returned from Hungary not just with research presentations, but with international respect. Their contribution has become a benchmark for excellence, showing what happens when scientific brilliance meets strategic vision.