The University of Venda (UNIVEN) continues to produce graduates who are shaping the future of global science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Among them is H.E. Given Mapaya Maboko, a Biochemistry and Microbiology alumnus who has transformed academic knowledge into market-driven biotechnology solutions. As Founder and Executive Chair of Camellia Innovations (Pty) Ltd, he is advancing antimicrobial technologies, bioeconomy interventions, and science-led enterprises to boost Africa’s global competitiveness. Reflecting on his formative years, Maboko notes, “My journey in innovation began in the lecture rooms of UNIVEN. I learned that science becomes powerful when it serves society.”
Guided by the belief that innovation must extend beyond laboratory walls, Maboko has created platforms that convert ideas into enterprises. As Deputy President of ENACTUS UNIVEN, he helps cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers students to pitch, prototype, and commercialise impactful solutions. His mentorship also spans his roles as a Ngwekazi Ambassador and Entrepreneurial Education Facilitator, where he equips young innovators with leadership and business skills. This commitment to youth development has earned him several accolades, including Emerging Innovator 2025/26, YAE Top 30 Finalist recognition, honours at the Mzansi Small Business Awards, and the overall win at the TIA Innovation Challenge.
Maboko’s influence has expanded beyond South Africa through international exchanges. As a Universal Greening Organisation (UGO ) Fellow in the 2025 cohort and a participant in EVB THENSA 2025, he deepened his exposure to sustainability, trade, and innovation ecosystems across the continent. He is currently a Queen’s University Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellow, strengthening his expertise in innovation management, commercialisation, and global engagement. His work in science diplomacy has included engagements in Barcelona, where he positioned African biotechnology within emerging policy and market frameworks. “Africa’s scientific voice must be heard in global policy conversations,” he says.
At the core of Camellia Innovations is Mellivarin, a bee-derived antimicrobial peptide designed to address the escalating global crisis of antimicrobial resistance. Developed in collaboration with a biotechnology partner in France, Mellivarin has advanced to a Certificate of Analysis, signalling readiness for pharmaceutical and topical therapeutic development. Alongside this milestone, Maboko is also progressing a diabetic health sachet, reflecting his philosophy that “when ideas meet real innovators, communities can be transformed.” These innovations position Camellia as a rising force in Africa’s biotech manufacturing landscape.
Despite his growing global presence, Maboko remains deeply connected to his roots in the dusty streets of Pax Intrantibus in Limpopo. Often described as a leader with “bulldog tenacity,” he is driven by a vision to reshape Africa’s manufacturing landscape, expand local production, and increase the export of African biotechnology products. His recent selection to participate in the Neoteric Summit in New York marks another milestone, placing a South African youth innovator at the intersection of science, policy, trade, and global industrial collaboration. Through Camellia Innovations, policy engagement, and science diplomacy, he continues to affirm that African innovation is not emerging, but global-ready, investable, and transformative.
The University of Venda has praised Given Maboko’s achievements as a powerful reflection of the institution’s commitment to producing socially responsive graduates who turn knowledge into impact. University spokesperson, Dr Takalani Dzaga noted that Maboko embodies UNIVEN’s vision of nurturing innovators who address real-world challenges through science, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. His journey from the lecture halls to leading a biotechnology enterprise and representing African innovation on global platforms was described as both inspiring and symbolic of the university’s role in shaping future-ready leaders. The University further commended his dedication to youth empowerment and science-driven enterprise, expressing confidence that his work through Camellia Innovations will continue to elevate African biotechnology and create opportunities for inclusive economic growth.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
