FOREK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CEO
- of Technology Chief Executive Officer ( CEO )
Ernest Chinyuke is Forek Institute of Technology's founding employee who rose through the ranks to be chief executive
IT was only by fluke that Forek Institute of Technology chief executive officer (CEO), Ernest Chinyuke, found himself joining the institution in 2009. In fact, Chinyuke is a founding employee of the college since when he met Forek chairman, Fortune Sibiya, by chance.
Sibiya had was looking for Chinyuke's brother who had an Information Technology (IT) background. The chairman had heard that Chinyuke's brother was helping someone to establish an IT college, and he had a vision to start Forek.
"He did not find my brother when he arrived. After I heard his story that he wanted to establish a college I told him that I could offer my advice," Chinyuke said. His odyssey of working in tandem with Sibiya in establishing and growing Forek began then, and has not stopped ever since.
Chinyuke started working at Forek IT Services and when Sibiya established an IT training school in Mbombela to produce software developers, he was there. The IT Sector Education and Training Authority-accredited school later expanded to offer Engineering and Business courses.
Chinyuke's first jobs were computer technician, facilitator, teacher, assessor and moderator and was instrumental in developing modules. The man known as "Mfundisi" because he is also an Apostle of the Divine House of Worship rose through the ranks and is now the CEO.
Chinyuke joined Forek because Sibiya's vision resonated with him. "It was a vision I gravitated towards with ease. Forek continues to thrive even in the most adverse of times. Recently we were hit by the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately it was survival of the fittest but we managed to be operational," he said.
Job Titles:
- Learner Workplacement Officer
Manyimo also has to manage a number of off-campus projects that Forek Institute of Technology is contracted to implement. Such projects include agricultural incubation, Unemployment Insurance Fund and National Skills Fund (NSF) trainings. The college has 175 learners who are doing generic management courses and food processing, 35 under the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture's Fortune 40 plant production incubation programme, and 40 learners doing abattoir processing.
Manyimo holds various qualifications in Purchasing and Supply, Marketing, Transport and Logistics. He is currently studying towards his Master of Business Administration. "What I'm doing now is out of experience and not necessarily what I studied," Manyimo said.