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Unisa's ICT guru crowned Public Sector CIO of the Year
Proud recipient of the Public Sector CIO of the Year award, Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi, VP: ICT and CIO at Unisa (Photo supplied by CIO South Africa)
Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi, Unisa’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Vice-Principal of Information and Communication Technology (VP: ICT), has been named Public Sector CIO of the Year at the annual CIO Awards, an initiative by CIO South Africa that has become a major highlight on South Africa’s digital calendar.
Recognised for her outstanding leadership and transformative impact in the public sector, particularly in higher education, Nakene-Mginqi received the award from CIO South Africa at the glamorous awards ceremony on 13 November 2025 at the Inanda Club in Sandton.
CIO Awards: ‘Oscars of IT’
Every year, the CIO Awards celebrate what has become known as the Oscars of IT, honouring IT leaders for pioneering innovation and driving digital transformation across South Africa.
The CIO Awards acknowledge CIOs of listed companies, large corporations, state-owned entities and government institutions for their outstanding performance and leadership in a range of hotly contested categories.
Nakene-Mginqi was recognised for her outstanding leadership and transformative impact in higher education in the field of ICT. Receiving the CIO of the Year title further solidifies her position as one of the country’s leading digital transformation executives.
Under Nakene-Mginqi’s leadership, Unisa’s ICT function has undergone remarkable renewal, transformation and stabilisation. She has driven system reliability, enabled ten major online examination sittings, enhanced the learning-management ecosystem, and achieved cost savings of over R26 million through the strategic optimisation of Moodle.
Her vision has also propelled investments in innovative technologies such as 3D Printing-as-a-Service (3DPaaS), reinforcing Unisa’s reputation as a forward-thinking, digitally empowered institution.
Role of women in technology
Nakene-Mginqi sees this award as not just a celebration of what her office has achieved, but also as fuel for the university’s future plans: “In tech, if you do not move forward, you will be behind,” she said during her acceptance speech.
Continuing, she shared the challenges of being a woman in technology, saying, “Being a woman in technology isn’t always easy, but we are changemakers. Every system we optimise, every digital transformation we drive, paves the way for more women to step into this space. Young women, watching tonight, the tech world needs your voice, your creativity, and your unique perspective. You belong at the tech leadership and innovation table. Don’t let imposter syndrome silence you. If I can stand here after years of wondering whether I belong, then you absolutely do, too.”
Nakene-Mginqi has fostered a culture of transparency, accountability, and innovation within her teams, encouraging honest feedback and bold experimentation beyond technology, according to the CIO South Africa website.
Her work strengthens Unisa’s commitment to accessible, modern, and student-centred education, while positioning the university as a leader in public sector digital transformation.
Her achievement is both a celebration of personal excellence and a milestone for Unisa’s ongoing journey into the future of 4IR-aligned higher education.
Unisa lauds inspirational technology leader
“On behalf of the University of South Africa, the management committee and all Unisa epistemic communities, we extend our congratulations to Ms Nakene-Mginqi as the recipient of this august award,” said Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “The university is proud of the contribution that she and her team have made in advancing technology and the support towards our academic science programs and Unisa’s engagement with society, here at home and abroad. We hope all youth and young adults who are interested in advancing technology will draw inspiration from this distinguished leader.”
* By Lesego Chiloane, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement, with input from Dr Khanyisile Twabu, Acting Deputy Director, Academy of Applied Technology and Innovation, Unisa
Publish date: 2025-11-19 00:00:00.0
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