Nhlangano – Five young entrepreneurs walked away with a combined E42 000 in seed capital after emerging as winners of the Shiselweni Business Incubation Training Programme, which concluded at the Nhlangano REO Hall yesterday.
Tebukhosi Mdziniso took the top prize of E15 000, followed by Tandzile Mntshali with E10 000 and Tenele Mhlanga with E7 000. Nduduzo Fakudze and Lindani each received E5 000.
The programme was hosted through a partnership between the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC), SEDCO Small Enterprises Development Company and the Youth Enterprise Fund – Eswatini.
A total of 50 young entrepreneurs took part in the four-week programme, receiving training in entrepreneurship, business planning, financial literacy, costing and pricing, digital marketing and pitching.
Ten participants were selected for the final pitching session, where they presented their business ideas to industry experts and stakeholders.
The pitching and awards ceremony was attended by the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, alongside representatives of the organisations involved in the programme.
The training formed part of ENYC’s Nhlangano iHub model, which provides young people with access to entrepreneurship training, mentorship and opportunities to develop their businesses.
The five winners will use the prize money as seed capital for their respective businesses, giving them an opportunity to put into practice the skills acquired during the four-week programme.
Speaking at the event, stakeholders encouraged the young entrepreneurs to make proper use of the knowledge and financial support received through the programme and to continue developing their businesses.
The programme also gave the participating entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their ideas in a competitive setting, with the top 10 advancing to the final pitching stage.
ENYC said the Nhlangano iHub model was intended to take youth entrepreneurship support closer to young people in the Shiselweni Region by linking training and mentorship with access to business opportunities and capital.
The initiative comes as young people continue to look to entrepreneurship as an alternative source of income and employment.
For the five winners, the E42 000 in seed capital now provides a financial starting point as they seek to turn their business ideas into sustainable enterprises.
The organisers congratulated all 50 participants, particularly the five winners, for completing the programme and taking part in the pitching competition.
Prize winners:
- Tebukhosi Mdziniso – E15 000
- Tandzile Mntshali – E10 000
- Tenele Mhlanga – E7 000
- Nduduzo Fakudze – E5 000
- Lindani – E5 000
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