BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
SITEKI– A major financial boost is on the way for Eswatini’s entrepreneurs after FNB Eswatini and the FNB Eswatini Foundation doubled their sponsorship of the 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA) to E2 million, with this year’s regional winners set to walk away with prizes worth twice as much as those awarded last year.
The announcement has raised the stakes for entrepreneurs competing in the prestigious awards, which are celebrating 20 years of recognising and nurturing Eswatini’s business talent under the theme “20 Years of Nurturing Future Growth.”
FNB Eswatini Chief Executive Officer Thokozani “TK” Dlamini made the announcement during the Lubombo Regional Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Siteki Hotel, where entrepreneurs gathered to showcase their businesses and compete for regional recognition.
Dlamini said the decision to increase the sponsorship was driven by a desire to ensure that entrepreneurs gain greater value from the EYA journey and that the rewards appropriately reflect the quality, resilience and excellence demonstrated by Eswatini’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“One of the key motivations behind the increase was to ensure that our SMEs continue to find value in the EYA journey and that the prizes reflect the excellence of their work,” said Dlamini.
The FNB CEO said the increased prizes were intended to go beyond recognition by providing winning entrepreneurs with resources that could help them strengthen their businesses and pursue further growth.
“We believe these prizes will make a positive impact on the business operations of our overall winners because the ultimate shared goal is to see these businesses grow,” he said.
The move comes as MSMEs continue to serve as an important engine of Eswatini’s economy, creating jobs, supporting livelihoods and driving innovation in communities across the country.
Dlamini said FNB’s investment in the EYA was therefore not simply about sponsoring an awards ceremony, but about creating a platform through which the bank could engage directly with entrepreneurs, listen to their experiences and better understand what they need to grow.
He said FNB’s partnership with the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) had enabled the bank to strengthen its engagement with small businesses and develop support that responds more closely to their realities.
“As FNB Eswatini, we believe that every Liswati and every Eswatini business should have opportunities to thrive, achieve their dreams and grow,” said Dlamini.
The CEO said the bank had entered its new financial year with a renewed commitment to supporting emaSwati through its “Help is for Everyone” campaign.
He said FNB believes it has a role to play in creating a conducive environment where businesses can start, operate, expand and ultimately contribute to the country’s economic development.
In another major announcement, Dlamini unveiled the regional FNB SME Growth Forums, a new initiative being introduced in partnership with SEDCO to mark the EYA’s 20th anniversary.
The forums will take practical business support directly to SMEs, creating spaces where entrepreneurs can engage on the economic outlook, emerging opportunities and FNB’s available SME solutions.
Entrepreneurs will also benefit from Business Toolkit Masterclasses covering critical areas such as cash-flow management, financial record keeping and business planning.
Dlamini said the forums would also give FNB an opportunity to listen more closely to the challenges faced by SMEs and use those insights to improve its support.
“The outcome of these forums will be that we are better positioned to shape and deliver our help in a way that responds directly to the needs of SMEs, ensuring that our solutions remain relevant, practical and impactful,” he said.
The first SME Growth Forum was scheduled to take place immediately after the Lubombo Regional Awards ceremony.
Dlamini also reaffirmed FNB’s commitment to the Lubombo Region, pointing to the recent renovation of the bank’s Siteki branch and the opening of its 13th branch at Siphofaneni in April 2026.
The increased sponsorship comes as Lubombo recorded 87 applications for the 2026 EYA competition, reflecting the region’s growing entrepreneurial activity.
With bigger prizes and new business support forums, the 2026 EYA programme is positioning itself as more than a competition. It is becoming a platform through which entrepreneurs can gain recognition, access financial support, strengthen their business skills and connect with opportunities that can take their enterprises to the next level.
As the awards programme celebrates two decades of “Nurturing Future Growth,” FNB Eswatini’s E2 million investment has placed entrepreneurs firmly at the heart of the celebration – and raised hopes that this year’s winners will use the opportunity to build businesses that create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to a stronger Eswatini economy.
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(Courtesy Pic)
