Fifty-four young entrepreneurs from Shiselweni walked away with new skills, certificates and, for five of them, seed capital after a four-week business incubation programme ended with a pitching session and awards ceremony at Nhlangano REO Hall.
The training, run by the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) together with the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) and the Youth Enterprise Fund – Eswatini, was designed to move ideas from paper to viable enterprises. Participants received intensive sessions on business plan development, practical entrepreneurship, financial literacy, costing and pricing, plus digital marketing and pitching skills.
All 54 trainees received participation certificates from SEDCO. Ten stood out as finalists and pitched their business models before an expert panel of judges. Five top-performing young entrepreneurs were awarded a share of E42,000 in seed capital grants to boost and scale their enterprises. 
The ceremony drew the Honourable Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, alongside key ecosystem partners dedicated to youth empowerment.
“A grant without guidance is a seed without soil”
Mr Sikhumbuzo Mbuyisa, Senior Manager in SEDCO’s Business Incubation Department representing the SEDCO CEO, delivered the keynote address.
“A grant without guidance is a seed without soil,” he said, arguing that funding alone is not enough. He said post-training incubation, structured hand-holding and mentorship are critical to ensure businesses survive and thrive through market challenges.
Mbuyisa also told the graduates that SEDCO’s support extends far beyond the competition. On behalf of the CEO, he reaffirmed that all 54 entrepreneurs are encouraged to leverage SEDCO’s ongoing business advisory services, advanced incubation programmes, and market access platforms to achieve long-term growth.
The event closed with congratulations to the five winners and all 54 participants for taking a big step toward building Eswatini’s economic future.
