BY MBONO MDLULI
MANZINI – It was joy and happiness for BSA Training Centre students and their relatives and friends, as they took part in the graduation ceremony, which will go down as one of the important days in the history of the institution.
The graduation ceremony took place yesterday (Friday, December 6, 2024) at Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre in Manzini. About 1 500 people, including the students, crammed the Hall 2 of the trade centre to witness the historic event.
Apart from Minister Nxumalo, the event was also attended by Members of Parliament (MPs) such as Futhi Ngcamphalala (Lubombo) and Alec Lushaba (Hhukwini). Former Minister Lutfo Dlamini and former Ministry of Education and Training Pat Muir were also present at the event. They serve as BSA board Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, respectively.
During the event, Minister Nxumalo expressed gratitude to BSA for having found it fit to provide technical and vocational training to Emaswati. Nxumalo was also representing Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla, who had to attend to other national duties.
Continuing with his speech, Nxumalo said by so doing, BSA was working cooperatively with His Majesty King Mswati III, who wanted to see technical and vocational education and training (TVET) improving in the country.
Worth noting is that during Sibaya last year, Emaswati made it clear that they wanted TVET education improved so that unemployment could be alleviated. Nxumalo also announced that his Ministry would ensure that 10 computers would be donated to BSA.
It was further announced during the event that 10 scholarships would be provided to members of the elderly people who would enroll with BSA.
BSA Board Chairperson Lutfo Dlamini, when making his remarks, told the students that they were supposed to be employers, not employees. He said they should take a leaf from Colonel David Sanders, who started Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at the age of 65 years.
Dlamini said Colonel Sanders was not deterred by his age to start his business. He was also not deterred by his background, which was not so good. The chairperson further thanked Government for allowing BSA for operating legally in the country. The chairman told the attendants that BSA was founded by a husband and his wife and this showed that the BSA project was overseen by a family, calling upon all families in the country to take a leaf and come up with their own projects for the betterment of Eswatini.
BSA Founder and Managing Director (MD) Bongani Delisa Dlamini, who declared the students as BSA graduates, said students were now not supposed to blame anyone, of they happened not to be able to work on starting their own businesses and making money for themselves. The MD advised the students to start small and work with what they had in business.
BSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Fakudze congratulated the students. Fakudze promised that the BSA would always stand by to support them, should they need the support. He hoped that the students were able to create fond memories of their times in BSA.
The dignitaries were then given an opportunity to view some of the products produced by the students. One of the products was a 1972 Datsun model, which had developed mechanical faults such that it could not be used for anything. All of the attendants were happy.