Lesotho: Thato Nkikana

Born in Maputsoe, Lesotho, Thato Nkikana is a founder and managing director of Basa Architects and Contractors, an architecture firm and construction company in Maseru, Lesotho, which she established to provide more employability for women who work in industries affiliated with the built environment. Nkikana holds a National Diploma in Architectural Technology from Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru, Lesotho, and she completed Project Management Professional (PMP) training from Mindcypress, an accredited program by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Nkikana is an alumna of Rise International’s Loco Fellowship. She works as a construction and projects manager for Relationships Inspiring Social Enterprise (RISE), a non-profit located in Maseru, Lesotho, which was created by local entrepreneurs to connect low-income countries in southern Africa with the resources needed to develop and improve infrastructure. Nkikana was invited by The Hub, located in Morija, Lesotho, to discuss her journey working in the architecture industry on the “Breaking Barriers in the Built Environment” episode of the Hub Talk Podcast (2024).