BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
KWALUSENI– Young emaSwati have been challenged to seize investment opportunities, develop a culture of saving and wealth creation, and use the country’s capital markets to contribute to Eswatini’s economic growth.
The call was made by Dr. Julius Warren Kule, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), during the Capital Markets Roundtable Indaba held at the Kwaluseni Campus on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Dr. Kule said the engagement was aimed at connecting students’ academic knowledge with the practical realities of the country’s financial ecosystem and exposing them to opportunities within the sector
He said young people should recognise that their financial decisions can contribute not only to their personal prosperity, but also to broader economic development.
“Capital markets are not just isolated platforms; they are the engines driving economic expansion, jobs, and national growth,” Dr. Kule said.
The Dean urged students to move away from a culture centred on immediate consumption and instead embrace saving, investing and wealth creation.
He said the evolving financial sector also presented significant career opportunities for young professionals, particularly those pursuing careers in accounting, management and marketing.
The engagement therefore sought to position students as future participants in the financial sector, whether as professionals, entrepreneurs or investors.
Dr. Kule further encouraged students to use the opportunity to interact directly with industry experts and gain practical knowledge beyond the classroom.
“To our students, engage, network, ask tough questions, and learn straight from the professionals sitting before you,” he said.
The indaba provided students with an opportunity to learn about capital markets and the role of institutions such as the Eswatini Stock Exchange in creating avenues for investment and wealth creation.
Representatives from the financial sector shared insights with the students, allowing them to better understand the opportunities and realities they may encounter as they enter the world of work and financial markets.
UNESWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Justice M. Thwala, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Gadaga and other members of senior management attended the engagement, alongside Heads of Department and staff from the Faculty of Commerce.
The gathering also strengthened collaboration between the university and financial sector stakeholders, creating a platform for students to engage with professionals and develop networks that could support their future careers.
For the students, the message was not simply to seek employment after graduation, but to understand the broader financial opportunities available to them and consider how they can participate in wealth creation.
The emphasis on investment also comes as financial literacy becomes increasingly important among young people entering an economy where informed financial decisions can determine their ability to build and preserve wealth.
By encouraging young emaSwati to save, invest and explore opportunities in the financial sector, the indaba highlighted the potential role of youth in driving economic activity and national development.
The Capital Markets Roundtable Indaba therefore placed young people at the centre of Eswatini’s financial future, encouraging them to turn knowledge into action and investment opportunities into pathways for personal and national growth.
