iGEMS celebrates 10 Years of Engineering excellence and impact.

On image: iGEMS board members with some of the alumni celebrated on the day.

This year marks a decade of innovation, impact, and inspiration for the Incubating Great Engineering Minds (iGEMS) programme, a flagship initiative of the Unity in Africa Foundation (UiNA) that has transformed the lives of young people across the Eastern Cape while strengthening South Africa’s engineering talent pipeline.

What began ten years ago as a small pilot project to bridge the gap between education and employment has grown into a powerful movement, one that connects classrooms to careers and shapes the next generation of skilled, employable engineers.

The atmosphere at Nelson Mandela University’s The Dome on Friday, 10 October, was nothing short of remarkable as iGEMS celebrated its tenth anniversary in the company of proud alumni, sponsors, mentors, and industry leaders. The milestone event honoured ten years of empowering young engineering talent from Nelson Mandela Bay and beyond.

As someone who attended the celebration, I was deeply moved by the stories shared, stories that traced the remarkable journeys of students who once entered iGEMS filled with uncertainty, but who today stand tall as engineers, innovators, and industry professionals. Many of these alumni, once from humble beginnings, are now contributing to major companies across South Africa, carrying with them the lessons, discipline, and confidence instilled through iGEMS.

Each alumnus who took to the stage shared not only gratitude but also profound insight into how the programme transformed their lives. They spoke passionately about how iGEMS offered them a bridge between education and employment, between potential and achievement. Listening to them thank the mentors, sponsors, and programme leaders was a powerful reminder of what consistent community support and corporate partnership can achieve.

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At the heart of iGEMS lies a four-phase education-to-employment journey designed to equip young South Africans with both academic and practical skills:

• Phase 1: Academic support in maths, science, and coding for Grade 11–12 learners, coupled with leadership development.

• Phase 2: A structured gap year of workplace experience through industry placements.

• Phase 3: Tertiary studies with continued mentorship and guidance.

• Phase 4: Graduates entering the workforce as confident, capable, and employable young engineers.

  
  

“We wanted to keep talent here, in the Eastern Cape, to build futures right here, in Gqeberha,” says Berenice Rose, Director of iGEMS. “And we’ve done exactly that. iGEMS is more than a programme - it’s a journey of discovery, development, and purpose.”

Among the keynote speakers at the event was Kevin Naidoo, Business Leader and Director of AutoX, who delivered a thought-provoking address on manufacturing in South Africa. He emphasized the importance of investing in local innovation and nurturing technical skills to sustain industrial growth. “If we truly want to grow as a country,” he said, “we must start where we are - building, manufacturing, and creating value that keeps our economy turning.”

As the engagement drew to a close, it was evident that iGEMS has become far more than an educational initiative. It is a movement, one that continues to inspire excellence, ignite ambition, and incubate the engineering minds shaping South Africa’s future.

For more, visit: iGEMS