Formal Announcement of the Passing on of the AAU Director of ICT, Communication and Knowledge Management – Ms Nodumo Dhlamini, a Giant in Africa’s Higher Education

It is with profound sadness that the Association of African Universities (AAU), representing over 450-member Higher Education Institutions in Africa and beyond, announces the passing of Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini, Director of ICT, Communications, and Knowledge Management at the AAU Secretariat, who departed on April 25, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.

During her nearly decade-long tenure at AAU, starting July 2015, Ms. Dhlamini demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and expertise, significantly impacting the Association’s core functions and advancing higher education in Africa. As a valued member of the management team, she brought extensive experience, strategic vision, and a commitment to excellence, spearheading key initiatives and shaping effective strategies.

Ms. Dhlamini was known for her transformative leadership in ICT and communications, driving impactful digital solutions that advanced African higher education. She fostered collaboration among diverse stakeholders, leveraged effective communication strategies to strengthen engagements, and demonstrated a commitment to knowledge generation and management, all of which significantly contributed to advancing the objectives of the AAU. Her exceptional blend of intellectual acuity, strategic vision, and warm humanity endeared her to colleagues and earned her a revered place within the AAU community.

Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini believed in empowering the younger generation and ably demonstrated this in her dealings with all who worked with her, going above and beyond to mentor and provide opportunities for them to develop their skills and to advance academically and professionally. As a trailblazing figure in African higher education and a beacon of inspiration to countless individuals across the continent, her enduring legacy will continue to galvanize and shape the future of our collective endeavours. The AAU pays tribute to her remarkable legacy, celebrating her extraordinary contributions and the profound impact made on our community. We invite our stakeholders, partners and various individuals to join us in honouring her memory by sending in your condolence messages via this link: https://aau.org/book-of-condolence-for-madam-nodumo-dhlamini/nodumo-dhlamini/

As a mark of respect and in recognition of Ms. Dhlamini’s outstanding contributions, the Association of African Universities will fly its flag at half-mast at the Secretariat until May 4, 2025.

Early Life and Career Trajectory

Ms. Dhlamini, born on March 23, 1966, in Matobo, Zimbabwe, recorded an illustrious career spanning over 30 years across various sectors, including secondary education, banking, railway industry, higher education, and agricultural development. Her remarkable journey is marked by strategic leadership, management, and administration expertise.

Ms. Dhlamini held a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Swaziland (1989-1994) and an MBA from Africa University, Zimbabwe (2001-2005). Her professional trajectory began as a teacher in Swaziland and Zimbabwe, before transitioning into other sectors, and then to higher education.

Throughout her distinguished career, Nodumo held several key positions, her last role being the Director of ICT, Communications and Knowledge Management at the Association of African Universities Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, where she spearheaded the development of the organization’s key strategic plans, communication strategies, and management information systems. She served previously as Program Manager – ICT at RUFORUM in Kampala, Uganda, overseeing the implementation of ICT projects and knowledge management initiatives. Additionally, she was the Director of the ICT Department at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, where she provided leadership in ICT adoption, policy development, and project implementation.

Key Impact Areas & Contribution to Africa’s Higher Education

Nodumo’s transformative leadership at the Association of African Universities (AAU) yielded profound impacts on the organization’s operations and Africa’s higher education landscape. Her notable accomplishments include:

• Catalyzing the creation of strategic communities of practice, including communities of ICT directors, communication professionals, and librarians, and implementing targeted capacity-building initiatives to enhance their impact.
• Forging pivotal partnerships that advanced AAU’s mission and strengthened its stakeholder engagements.
• Spearheading the development and implementation of cutting-edge technology platforms, which facilitated seamless interactions between the Secretariat and its stakeholders.
• Establishing a vibrant information clearinghouse for African higher education, by leveraging AAU’s communication services to promote the Association and foster stakeholder engagement
• Providing visionary leadership to AAU’s knowledge management and open science initiatives, and brokering collaborations and partnerships that propelled the Association’s agenda.
• Driving impactful programmes and projects, contributing significantly to initiatives such as the Science Granting Councils Initiative, Harmonisation of African Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation (HAQAA) Initiative, Africa Centres of Excellence, Demographics of African Faculty Project, Increasing Universal Acceptance Readiness in Africa initiative, National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and AAU-eLearnAfrica Learning Management System.
• Strengthening AAU’s core functions, including ICT, communications, knowledge management, and membership, through strategic direction and team leadership.

As we mourn the loss of a remarkable leader, Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini, we take solace in the enduring impact of her work, which will continue to shape the landscape of African higher education. The AAU family stands in solidarity with her loved ones, colleagues, friends, and country, Zimbabwe, offering heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. We are comforted by the fact that her legacy will inspire future generations. Further details on her memorial arrangements will be shared in due course.

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Association of African Universities

28 April 2025