Meet this week’s #AbsaSmallBizFriday featured business – Mlungisi Nkosi Maths & Science Centre.
Mlungisi Nkosi’s personal business journey is rooted in a passion for education and community upliftment. He began as a dedicated tutor who focused on improving students’ understanding of maths and science. However, when COVID-19 struck, it became clear that while some school programs could continue online, many students without adequate digital learning resources were left behind. In response to this challenge and to help his students keep up with their lessons during this period, he launched a Maths and Science YouTube channel.
The YouTube channel quickly gained popularity and experienced exponential growth. Since its inception, it has attracted over 250,000 subscribers and over 24 million views.
Notably, the channel became the first self-managed educational content channel accepted into the YouTube Black Voices program. It also won an award for the best final year-end project among participants from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. Today, the channel serves as a valuable resource for both teachers and students, supplementing classroom teaching and learning.
The success of the YouTube channel led to the creation of the Mlungisi Nkosi Maths and Science Centre, located in Honeydew, Roodepoort. The centre’s mission is to ensure that every learner, especially those in disadvantaged areas, has the opportunity to excel academically and compete on a global scale.
What began with just a pen and paper and his wife filming on a Huawei P90 during the strict lockdown has now grown into a fully operational centre with four permanent staff members and two part-time staff.
The Mlungisi Nkosi Maths and Science Centre offers tutoring for grades 8-12 and Matric rewrites online and in person. The centre hosts #FundaCamps to help students prepare for exams, such as the Winter Camp, Finish Strong Camp, Prelim Preparation Weekends, and Final Exam Preparation Weekends.
In addition to his educational work, he is committed to entrepreneurship. Mlungisi continually seeks ways to expand his initiative and collaborate with others to address academic challenges. His journey reflects a deep drive to combine business and education to empower the youth and contribute to long-term community development.
The Mlungisi Nkosi Maths and Science Centre pride themselves on the impact they have made on the learners that have been a part of their journey. Their innovative approach has recently earned them an Honorary Membership into the International Golden Key Society – UJ Chapter. Even though they earned several accolades both locally and internationally, their greatest pride and joy come from the changed lives of the learners who initially struggled with Mathematics and Science.
A highlight of their achievements includes receiving the Outstanding Educational Influencer award at the AKS Global Teaching Awards in Dubai on 29 April 2023.
Mlungisi’s journey has shaped his business into an inclusive, dynamic educational initiative focused on long-term learner success. The future holds exciting possibilities for growth, both in terms of expanding the reach of his program and enhancing the quality and variety of what they offer. Through this journey, he has learned that education is not just about imparting knowledge but about inspiring transformation, and that is where he sees the heart of his business in the years to come. In terms of growth and expansion, he also wants to have at least one centre in each province.
In 2024, Mlungisi Nkosi received the National Startup Champion Award at the South African Small Business Awards – this prestigious awards programme celebrates the most outstanding businesses and the exceptional business people behind these successful and growing businesses.
We look forward to seeing how Mlungi Nkosi and his team continue to build the youth and community to positively impact their futures.