Pretoria - Once upon a time Oprah Winfrey had an African dream.
It was to see South African girls get the best education she could afford to give them.
Nompumelelo Nobiva was part of Winfrey’s inaugural class of 72 when the Leadership Academy for Girls opened its doors in 2007.
She recently graduated from the Johnson C Smith University in North Carolina with an Honours degree.
At 9 years olf Nobiva lost her mother to Aids.
Instead of letting that change the course of her life, she persevered.
“You are more than your circumstances. HIV/Aids took my mother but it did not take my spirit,” she said. She credits her grandmother for her strength and spiritual wellbeing.
After majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on global outreach, public rhetoric and strategic communications, Nobiva is working towards a Master’s degree at High Point University.
She has now set her sights on the launch of her international empowerment campaign – share Your Story, Inspiring Courage.
“I hope to one day share my story with the United Nations or African Union of how education helped me overcome,” she said.
Winfrey attended the graduation where Nobiva was graduating with her fellow inaugural student Noluthando Dlomo.
Winfrey was also in attendance at the graduation of another student, Tabitha Ramotwala, at Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts.
“Nothing would keep me from being here to celebrate the promise that I made to Nelson Mandela over 10 years ago,” Winfrey told the audience at the graduation ceremony.
She quoted the late Maya Angelou: “Your crown has been paid for. Your number one job is to put it on your head and wear it.”
Winfrey posted a picture of herself and the girls at the graduation and captioned it : “Proud Happy Day! 2 Graduations done… Congratulations to my beautiful and brilliant ‘daughter-girls’.”