EZULWINI – Youth innovation took centre stage at the Eswatini Investment Conference on Thursday as Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Savannah Maziya called for urgent action to empower young emaSwati in the digital space.
Addressing local and international delegates at Sharma House, Maziya said equipping young people with the skills, tools and opportunities to innovate was key to ensuring Eswatini’s digital future is shaped from within. She said the government was working to create an ecosystem that supports homegrown tech solutions and reduces reliance on foreign innovations.
“Young people must move from being passive users of technology to becoming active creators,” said Maziya. “They need to be equipped to compete globally while solving problems at home.” 
She said the Ministry of ICT has already launched several programmes aimed at developing digital skills among the youth, with a particular focus on increasing the participation of girls and young women in technology.
Among the initiatives mentioned was Eswatini’s involvement in the global Mission ShakthiSAT programme, where 108 Swati girls were trained in space science alongside peers from 100 countries. The programme, which reached 10,800 participants worldwide, seeks to spark interest in STEM fields and space technology among young women.
Maziya said similar platforms are in development to expose more young emaSwati to emerging technologies, positioning them to build world-class solutions from within the Kingdom.
