BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MPOLONJENI– Young people have been urged to move beyond simply acquiring academic qualifications and instead equip themselves with practical, entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills that will enable them to thrive in a rapidly changing labour market.
This message was delivered by Ministry of Education and Training Under Secretary Lungelo Nhlengethwa, who represented Minister Owen Nxumalo at the opening of the Career Expo 2026 held at Mpolonjeni Inkhundla.
Addressing learners, educators, government officials and industry representatives, Nhlengethwa said qualifications remained important, but on their own were no longer sufficient to guarantee employment in today’s competitive and technology-driven economy.
“Qualifications alone are no longer enough,” he said, noting that employers were increasingly looking for graduates who were innovative, adaptable and capable of solving real-world problems.
He said young people must also develop entrepreneurial thinking, communication skills, creativity and the ability to embrace emerging technologies if they are to remain relevant in the workplace.
Nhlengethwa described the Career Expo as a timely initiative that directly responds to the aspirations of emaSwati, particularly the youth, by exposing them to a wide range of career and business opportunities.
He commended the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for bringing together government, educational institutions, private sector players, entrepreneurs and development partners under one roof.
“The Expo demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal of creating opportunities for our people,” he said.
Speaking on this year’s theme, ‘Creating Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Innovation and Career Growth,’ Nhlengethwa said it reflected the country’s determination to prepare young people not only to seek employment but also to become job creators.
He said thousands of young people completed their education every year with hopes of building successful careers, yet many remained uncertain about career choices, labour market demands and how to transform their talents into viable businesses.
“It is much more than an exhibition. It is a place where dreams begin to take shape. It is where young people are exposed to opportunities they may never have known existed,” he said.
According to Nhlengethwa, the Expo provides learners with a rare opportunity to interact directly with universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, employers, professional bodies, entrepreneurs and training providers who can guide them towards meaningful careers.
He said for many young people, a single conversation with an employer or education provider could influence an entire career path, while one demonstration could spark an innovative business idea.
“One interaction with an employer could open the door to an internship, apprenticeship, scholarship or future employment. That is the true value of this Expo,” he said.
Nhlengethwa also highlighted the rapid transformation taking place in the global economy, saying advances in artificial intelligence, automation, renewable energy and the green economy were creating entirely new professions while reshaping traditional occupations.
He said these developments required education systems to continuously evolve to ensure graduates possessed skills that matched the demands of both today’s labour market and the jobs of the future.
“The Ministry of Education and Training is committed to ensuring that our schools, colleges, universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training centres produce graduates who are competent, innovative, adaptable and entrepreneurial,” he said.
He said the ministry continued to strengthen programmes in engineering, information and communication technology, agriculture, construction, hospitality, renewable energy, furniture manufacturing, textiles and business development, among other sectors regarded as critical to Eswatini’s economic growth.
However, he stressed that technical knowledge must be complemented by practical abilities and personal attributes that enable graduates to adapt to changing workplace demands.
He encouraged young people attending the Expo to use the opportunity to engage exhibitors, ask questions and explore career paths aligned with their interests and abilities.
Nhlengethwa said initiatives such as the Career Expo were instrumental in helping bridge the gap between education and employment by providing learners with first-hand exposure to industry expectations and emerging opportunities.
He added that nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among young people would contribute significantly towards reducing unemployment while supporting national development objectives.
The Career Expo brought together government ministries, tertiary institutions, vocational training centres, employers, entrepreneurs and development partners to showcase educational programmes, career opportunities, funding initiatives and skills development pathways available to young emaSwati.
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