BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE– In direct response to the Speech from the Throne delivered during the official opening of the Third Session of the 12th Parliament, the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) has announced 11 programmes it will immediately implement to advance youth development.
In a statement, the Council formally acknowledged and affirmed the strategic direction outlined by Mswati III, particularly his call to place young people at the centre of Eswatini’s development agenda.
“His Majesty’s strong encouragement of accelerated job creation for youth reinforces the urgent national imperative to expand opportunity and integrate young people meaningfully into the mainstream economy,” the statement read.
The communiqué noted that, in alignment with the priorities articulated in the Speech from the Throne, the Council is intensifying targeted interventions that directly respond to national objectives around economic growth and employment creation.
Among the immediate measures, ENYC will expand graduate internship placements to improve workplace exposure and employability. The Council will also scale up its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) start-up toolkits programme to equip young artisans with practical resources to establish sustainable enterprises.
Business incubation support for youth-owned enterprises is also being strengthened to increase participation in productive sectors of the economy.
Responding to the King’s emphasis on agriculture, food security and self-sufficiency, ENYC said it would continue reinforcing micro agri-business support and subsidy-linked initiatives. The aim is to ensure that young people actively participate across agricultural value chains, from production to processing and distribution.
In line with the national focus on modernisation and competitiveness, the Council is accelerating ICT and digital skills training to prepare youth for emerging industries and innovation-driven sectors.
The statement further indicated that mindset change programmes will be intensified to promote entrepreneurship, responsibility and economic resilience. Access to youth funding mechanisms will also be expanded to ensure young entrepreneurs can translate ideas into viable businesses.
Institutionally, ENYC is reinforcing its implementation framework by strengthening national coordination structures, advancing the review of the National Youth Policy and finalising the State of the Youth Report to guide evidence-based planning.
Through integrated interventions addressing economic empowerment, health, well-being and education – including comprehensive life skills education to tackle challenges such as unintended teenage pregnancy – the Council said it remains committed to aligning youth development initiatives with national priorities and measurable outcomes.
The Council emphasised that it stands resolute in translating the vision expressed from the Throne into tangible results that secure dignity, productivity and prosperity for the youth of the Kingdom.
(Courtesy Pic)
