In 1996, a young girl in Nata, Botswana, began teaching other children at her mother’s homestead. At approximately ten years old, Ndiko Muzila was already displaying an interest that would later shape her professional life. Nearly three decades later, that early passion has evolved into an educational enterprise, a publishing career and a wider commitment to community development. Her story is one of turning an idea into an institution. It also raises an important question for Africa’s emerging generation of entrepreneurs: what can happen when a personal passion is developed into a sustainable enterprise that creates opportunities for others?
A DREAM THAT STARTED IN CHILDHOOD
Muzila’s journey began with an interest in helping other children learn. Rather than allowing that interest to remain a childhood experience, she pursued formal education at the University of Botswana, where she developed a vision for a professional homeschooling business. After graduating in 2012, she gained teaching experience before taking steps to establish her own educational venture. In 2013, she founded Dawn Bell Academy, laying the groundwork for what would become a growing network of learning centres. The transition from classroom experience to entrepreneurship marked an important step in her journey. It required translating an educational idea into a business capable of responding to the needs of students and families. Her experience illustrates a broader lesson about enterprise development: identifying a need can be the beginning of a business, but building a lasting institution requires planning, professional development and the ability to adapt.
BUILDING AN EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISE
Dawn Bell Academy has expanded its services to include homeschooling, tutorials, remediation and supplementary learning for primary and secondary school students. Its official website lists 30 campuses across Botswana, with operations spanning Tlokweng, Gaborone and other locations. The enterprise’s growth has also created significant employment opportunities. The academy has employed more than 325 educators and serves over 3,700 clients, reflecting the scale of its operations. Beyond its numbers, the academy stands out as a model of education-based entrepreneurship, demonstrating how a specialised service can evolve into a thriving enterprise while creating opportunities for teachers and expanding learning options for families. One of Muzila’s notable contributions to this vision has been her decision to introduce a minimum wage of P5,000 at Dawn Bell Academy two years ago, setting a standard that is significantly above Botswana’s government-set minimum wage. This decision reflects a deliberate commitment to valuing educators, recognising their contribution to the institution’s success and demonstrating that investment in employees can form part of a broader vision for sustainable business growth. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Muzila’s journey offers an important lesson: building a successful enterprise is not only about identifying a market opportunity and expanding operations, but also about creating meaningful employment and treating people as an essential part of the organisation’s growth. Her experience underscores the importance of turning ideas into practical solutions, maintaining service quality and building a business whose impact extends beyond its financial performance.
THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE WRITTEN WORD
Muzila’s professional activities extend beyond education management. She is also an author, trainer, consultant and publisher. Her official profile lists 59 books, while other professional information has cited different totals. Her involvement in publishing adds another dimension to her work: the development and distribution of knowledge beyond the classroom. Educational books, training materials and inspirational writing can support learning, communicate ideas and encourage readers to explore new possibilities. For Africa, where access to relevant learning resources remains an important development priority, authors and educators have a role in strengthening knowledge production and sharing. Muzila’s work across education and publishing illustrates how professional expertise can be applied through different channels to reach wider audiences.
LEADERSHIP BEYOND BUSINESS
Muzila is also identified with pastoral ministry and humanitarian work, including community initiatives and youth mentorship. These activities broaden the scope of her professional profile beyond business leadership. Her public recognition has included awards associated with entrepreneurship, authorship and community building. In November 2024, she received four awards at the Glitz Awards for BW Celebs. She also pledged the P25,000 prize associated with the Most Voted Award towards purchasing chairs for pupils at Sowa Junior Secondary School. The decision connected recognition with a practical educational need. It also highlights how business success and public visibility can provide opportunities to support community initiatives. Leadership, in this context, extends beyond establishing an organisation or accumulating professional achievements. It also involves recognising needs, mobilising resources and using available opportunities to contribute to the wellbeing of others.
UNLEASHING AFRICA’S NEXT GENERATION
Muzila’s journey speaks to the wider potential of African entrepreneurship. Across the continent, individuals identify problems, develop solutions and build enterprises that can contribute to employment, education and social progress. The challenge is creating environments where such initiatives can grow sustainably. Young Africans do not need to begin with large institutions or extensive resources. They need the willingness to identify opportunities, develop relevant skills and turn ideas into practical solutions. However, ambition must be matched with sound planning, accountability and a commitment to delivering value. Muzila’s progression from teaching children in Nata to leading an expanding educational enterprise offers an example of how an early interest can develop into a professional undertaking with a wider reach.
Her story reinforces a central message of the UNLEASHED edition: potential becomes meaningful when it is translated into action. Africa’s future will be shaped by people who build institutions, share knowledge, create employment and invest in the next generation. The task is not simply to recognise talent, but to develop it into initiatives that respond to real needs. Sometimes, the beginnings of a lasting institution can be found in the simplest act of service. What matters is the vision to see its possibilities and the commitment to build upon them.