The University of Venda’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture proudly celebrates the outstanding achievements of Dr Mpho Tshikororo and Dr George Oluwole Akintola, who have each been awarded the National Research Foundation (NRF) Y2 Rating a prestigious recognition granted to promising early-career researchers demonstrating high-quality, impactful scholarly outputs and international standing.
Dr Mpho Tshikororo: Advancing Agribusiness and Climate-Resilient Food Systems
Dr Tshikororo, Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, brings a multidisciplinary perspective to agricultural research. He holds a BSc in Agribusiness Management from the University of Zululand and an LLB from the University of South Africa. His academic journey continued at the University of Venda, where he earned both MSc and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics.
His research explores climate change adaptation strategies, focusing on sustainable food production and the resilience of food systems to climate-driven disruptions. A core component of his work addresses agricultural entrepreneurship, especially among resource-constrained youth and women farmers, by promoting viable and sustainable agribusiness models. He has also contributed significantly to land restitution research projects, serving in various capacities from desktop researcher to project co-leader.
A seasoned academic, Dr Tshikororo has supervised postgraduate students, published in reputable peer-reviewed journals, and presented his findings at national and international conferences. His NRF rating is a testament to his growing influence in agricultural economics and community-focused research. Dr George Oluwole Akintola: Powering the Future with Energy Geology.
Dr George Oluwole Akintola: Powering the Future with Energy Geology
Dr Akintola, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences, is celebrated for his contributions to the field of Energy Geology. He began his academic career with a BSc in Geology (with Distinction) from Olabisi Onabanjo University in Nigeria, followed by industry experience as an exploration geologist. He later obtained both his MSc (with Distinction) and PhD in Mining and Environmental Geology from the University of Venda.
His research focuses on the evaluation and extraction of critical energy resources, including Rare Earth Elements (REEs), unconventional hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, and uranium. Dr Akintola is also deeply involved in sustainable mining practices and the engineering uses of clay minerals, conducting extensive field and laboratory research across South Africa’s geological formations, such as the Karoo Supergroup, specifically the Witbank, Tuli, and Tshipise Coalfields.
A respected scholar, he is a member of both the Geological Society of America and the Geological Society of Africa, and has co-supervised Honours and Master’s students, while publishing in leading journals in energy, geochemistry, mineralogy, and economic geology. His NRF rating brings the Department of Earth Sciences’ total rated researchers to four, underscoring its growing reputation in postgraduate research excellence.
The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, Prof Natasha Potgieter, on behalf of the University, congratulates both Dr Tshikororo and Dr Akintola on their NRF ratings and celebrates their continued contributions to impactful, transformative research across agriculture and geosciences.
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