UKZN’s Top Honours Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship

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Mr Jaedon Naidu is the proud recipient of the Zac Yacoob Scholarship awarded to the single best honours student at UKZN.

The award recognises Naidu’s exceptional academic achievements and adds to his distinguished record that includes graduating as UKZN’s top undergraduate student during the May 2025 Graduation ceremonies with a credit weighted average of 96.2%.

Naidu, who is pursuing his BSc Honours in Statistics, says his choice to study at UKZN was a natural progression from a longstanding affinity for mathematics. His decision was significantly influenced by Professor Delia North, former Dean and Head of the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, who interacted with him and his brother during their high school years, encouraging them to pursue Data Science at the University.

“Mathematics has always been where I’ve felt most confident,” said Naidu. “The Data Science programme at UKZN, along with the support of being close to home, made it the best choice for me.”

His time at UKZN has been marked not only by academic success but also by rich cultural and social experiences. He thanked the University’s academic staff, highlighting their expertise and dedication as being instrumental to his growth. “Many of my lecturers have been not just knowledgeable but also outstanding teachers which, for a student, makes a huge difference,” he noted.

The friendships formed and the opportunities to mentor fellow students further enriched his academic experience.

While academics have been at the forefront of Naidu’s journey, his interests outside the classroom have played an essential role in maintaining a healthy balance. A fitness enthusiast, he has a passion for weighted calisthenics and finds both mental and physical clarity through his training. He is also an accomplished pianist and the creator of a growing YouTube channel, where he shares content on study strategies and productivity. “Having a wide range of interests has helped me avoid burnout, something very common when striving for academic success,” he said.

His decision to specialise in Statistics at honours level stemmed from a fascination with the field’s practical applications. With a triple major in Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Naidu ultimately found himself drawn to the way statistics interprets real-world complexity and guides data-driven decision-making. “Statistics moves beyond theory to uncover patterns and solve problems grounded in actual data,” he said. “I wanted the experience of studying it at a higher level.”

Though Naidu has yet to finalise his future plans, he is strongly considering pursuing a master’s degree - either at UKZN or abroad - with the possibility of a PhD to follow. Career-wise he remains open to suggestions but is certain about one thing: “What’s important to me is that the job I have one day makes a positive difference in the world and helps individual people as well.”

He is profoundly grateful for the rewards of winning the Zac Yacoob Scholarship, which fully funds his honours year. “This award enables me to gain high-level knowledge from insightful academics, for free, as was the case in my undergraduate years,” he said. “More than that, it’s a merit-based award, and having received the top undergraduate and postgraduate awards, it’s affirming to know I’ve maintained a standard I can be proud of.”

Naidu gave thanks to God and acknowledged those who helped make his journey possible. “We should never fool ourselves into thinking our achievements are ours alone,” he remarked, crediting his success to a network of support that includes his family comprising his father Dr Sean Naidu, mother Dr Anoshini Moodley, brother Mr Aaron Naidu and girlfriend Ms Alicia Khader, not forgetting his first and most influential teacher, his grandmother Mrs Eveline Vincent. “She was instrumental in shaping my academic journey,” he said.

Naidu further thanked his teachers at Eden College in Durban and UKZN’s Emeritus Professor Poobhalan Pillay and Emeritus Professor Delia North, whose mentorship and belief in his potential laid a strong foundation for his achievements.

Words: Sally Frost

Photograph: Andile Ndlovu