Ezulwini – FNB Eswatini and the FNB Eswatini Foundation have committed E1 666 448 towards education, disaster relief, youth empowerment, women’s economic participation, sport and community development, with seven organisations and 12 public schools benefiting from the sponsorship package announced yesterday.
Speaking during the sponsorship handover ceremony at the bank’s headquarters in Ezulwini, FNB Eswatini Chief Executive Officer Thokozani ‘TK’ Dlamini said the investment reflected the bank’s continued support for projects that improve lives and create opportunities across the country.
The largest contribution is E1 million from the FNB Eswatini Foundation for the rehabilitation of a six-classroom block at St Paul’s Primary School in Manzini, which was damaged during a windstorm in May. The project is expected to restore safe learning facilities for about 900 learners.
“We were immensely touched to see the damage caused by the windstorm. We believe this contribution will help fast-track the rehabilitation process and ensure teachers and learners at St Paul’s can work and learn in conducive and safe environments,” Dlamini said.
The Foundation also committed E304 080 to ENACTUS for its Girls in STEM Employability Programme, which will prepare 15 young women graduates for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through work-readiness training, paid internships and mentorship.
Another E180 000 was awarded to the MTN Foundation under its Adopt-a-School Campaign. The sponsorship will finance the construction of a water supply system at Gija High School in the Hhohho Region.
Among the beneficiaries funded by FNB Eswatini was Women in Trade and Development (WITAD), which received E52 250 for its Nurturing Bankable and Climate-Smart Women’s Agribusinesses in Rural Eswatini project. The initiative will support 40 rural women agripreneurs through business incubation, enterprise formalisation, financial literacy, climate-smart farming and market access. Sixty per cent of the beneficiaries are youth, while 20 per cent are persons living with disabilities.
“As a business, we are honoured to partner with WITAD, aligned with our mandate of being the go-to bank for SMEs in Eswatini,” said Dlamini.
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) received E43 643 to purchase sports kits for students competing in local and international tournaments.
“Within FNB, we promote work-life balance. We also believe that while our students chase academic success, they should be adequately supported with their extracurricular activities. We look forward to UNESWA lifting many intervarsity titles wearing these kits,” he said.
The bank also contributed E30 000 towards the 2026 Eswatini Spelling Bee, which attracted 190 learners from across the country’s four regions, including 120 primary school learners and 70 high school pupils.
Another E30 000 was donated to the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) in support of the 2026 Imbube Marathon.
“As FNB Eswatini, we believe in the power of sport to bring people together and be a force for good in society. We are proud to partner with ENPF for the Imbube Marathon, which also promotes physical activity and wellbeing,” Dlamini said.
In partnership with Buy ‘n Save SPAR, the bank donated school shoes worth E52 950 to 356 underprivileged learners from 12 public schools. The beneficiary schools are Dlangeni Primary School, Lobamba National Primary School, Ludzeludze Primary School, Phocweni Primary School, Lomadvokola Primary School, Ekuphileni Primary School, School for the Deaf Primary School, Maphiveni Primary School, Mcuba Primary School, St Aidan’s Primary School, Mavalela Primary School and Ngololweni Primary School.
Dlamini said although the sponsorships would not address every challenge facing the country, they would improve the lives of many beneficiaries.
He said the sponsorships coincide with the start of the bank’s new financial year under the theme “Help is for Everyone”, adding that partnerships with organisations such as the MTN Foundation and Buy ‘n Save SPAR allow the bank to extend support to more communities.
During the ceremony, the bank also unveiled the new FNB Eswatini Foundation logo, which Dlamini said represents the Foundation’s role as a structured platform for delivering social investment and community development programmes.
He called on all beneficiary organisations to manage the sponsorships responsibly and ensure they deliver lasting value to the communities they serve.
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