College of College of Graduate Studies

Canadian minister leads Unisa visit ahead of G20 Summit

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From left: Prof Malik Maaza, incumbent of the U2ACN2, and Hon François-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue

Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, recently visited the Western Cape node of the UNESCO-Unisa-iThemba LABS/NRF Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (U2ACN2), ahead of the G20 Summit later this year.

This high-level visit stems from a long-standing partnership – now in its twelfth year – between the Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Plasma Applied to Micro- and Nanomanufacturing Technologies and the U2ACN2. Over the years, this partnership has yielded impactful results in research innovation, academic exchange and scientific advancement.

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Online discussion between the Canadian delegation and Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and Prof Tennyson Mgutshini, Executive Dean, College of Graduate Studies

Minister Champagne was accompanied by the Honourable James Christoff, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa, and the Honourable Caroline Bolduc, Canada’s Trade Commissioner in South Africa. They were welcomed by Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, along with Professor Victor Tshivhase, Managing Director of iThemba LABS/NRF, and Tebogo Mokoma from the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

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Back, from left: Hon Caroline Bolduc (Trade Commissioner of Canada in SA), Anuoluwa Makinde (MSc student), Dr Rudzani Nemutudi (Deputy Director: iThemba LABS/NRF), Daniel Kpeglo (PhD student), Prof Malik Maaza (incumbent of the U2ACN2), Dr Adama Fall (Postdoctoral Fellow), Dr Razieh Morad (Postdoctoral Fellow), Jadvy Kouka (PhD student), and Dr Meresa Girmay Tsegay (Postdoctoral Fellow) Front, from left: Dr Nagla Numan, Shiva Shafiei Khosroshahi (PhD student), Aylar Shamskhameneh (PhD student), Hon Jamie Christoff (Ambassador of Canada in SA), Prof Victor Tshivhase (Managing Director, iThemba LABS/NRF), Dr Itani Madiba (Senior Researcher at the U2ACN2), Hon François-Philippe Champagne (Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue), Basel Martin (Mechanical Engineer, iThemba LABS/NRF), Dr Mlungisi Nkosi (Head of the Materials Research Department, iThemba LABS/NRF), Meisam Aligholami (PhD student), and Awad Ismail (PhD student)

Since 2013, collaborative efforts under the leadership of Dr Mohamed Chaker (incumbent of the CRC) and Professor Malik Maaza (incumbent of the U2ACN2) have delivered tangible benefits for both institutions and society at large. This collaboration has included the exchange of advanced research equipment, cutting-edge scientific projects, joint publications and presentations at international conferences, co-hosted workshops, and academic mobility opportunities for staff and postgraduate students.

The visit highlighted the critical role of sustained international partnerships in tackling global scientific challenges and advancing innovation in nanotechnologies across Africa and beyond. 

* By Hanli Wolhuter, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Graduate Studies

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Publish date: 2025-08-04 00:00:00.0

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