BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANEA – First-year students at Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) have been challenged to embrace university as a journey of personal transformation and purposeful growth, rather than simply focusing on passing examinations and obtaining qualifications.
The call was made by Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary Naniki Mnisi during EMCU’s First Year Orientation today, where she urged the new students to thrive academically, personally, socially and spiritually.
The PS said university education should go beyond academic achievement, as students were expected to develop their character, cultivate their talents and prepare themselves for meaningful service to society. “I have deliberately chosen the word thriving rather than merely surviving,” she said.
She encouraged students to take full responsibility for their education by remaining curious, asking thoughtful questions and maintaining discipline in pursuing their aspirations.
The PS further challenged the students to embrace opportunities beyond the classroom, including student organisations, leadership programmes, community outreach and other university activities.
She said such experiences would help students develop leadership, compassion, resilience, effective communication, emotional intelligence and the ability to work harmoniously with others.
The PS also highlighted the importance of health and wellbeing, particularly as the students prepare for careers in healthcare and other sectors.
“As future healthcare professionals and leaders, you must recognise that caring for yourselves is neither an indulgence nor an afterthought. It is a sacred responsibility,” she said.
She urged students to prioritise their physical health through wholesome living, regular exercise, sufficient rest and disciplined habits, while giving equal attention to their mental and emotional wellbeing.
The PS acknowledged that university life could bring moments of uncertainty, disappointment and pressure, but stressed that such experiences could help build resilience, wisdom and maturity.
She encouraged students facing difficulties to seek support from lecturers, mentors, the Student Affairs Office, counsellors, peers and family members instead of suffering in silence.
“There is great strength in recognising the need for support, and even greater wisdom in accepting it,” she said.
As students at a Christian university, Mnisi also encouraged them to nurture their spiritual lives alongside their academic pursuits. She said qualifications could open doors of opportunity, but character would sustain a lifetime of influence, urging the students to uphold integrity, humility, compassion, discipline and honesty.
Reflecting on EMCU’s contribution to the country, Mnisi said the institution had produced 1,757 graduates across health, technology and social science disciplines. She said these graduates were now serving on the frontlines of the country’s health system and social sectors, demonstrating the university’s contribution to national development.
Mnisi, who has worked closely with EMCU in her capacity as Principal Secretary and Controlling Officer, said she had witnessed the institution’s growth, pursuit of academic excellence and commitment to Christian values.
She also reaffirmed Government’s commitment to supporting tertiary education through regulatory and quality assurance oversight, student financing and subsidies, as well as strategic alignment and infrastructure support.
She said Government’s support for higher education was also aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
According to Mnisi, advancing education also contributes to progress towards other Sustainable Development Goals, including good health and wellbeing, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities.
“Every lecture you attend, every practical lesson you undertake, every research project you complete and every skill you acquire contributes directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the long-term prosperity of our Kingdom,” she said.
Mnisi further challenged the students to become graduates who are not only knowledgeable and competent, but also principled, compassionate and committed to serving others with excellence, integrity and humanity.
She urged them not to compare their university journey with that of others, but instead to focus on becoming wiser, stronger, kinder and more capable each day.
The PS also recognised the sacrifices of parents, guardians and families who had supported the students in reaching university, while commending EMCU’s leadership, faculty and staff for their role in shaping future professionals.
As the students begin their university journey, she urged them to approach every lecture with an eager mind, every challenge with courage and every opportunity with gratitude.
“Do not merely pass through the university. Thrive academically. Thrive personally. Thrive socially. Thrive spiritually. Thrive in body, mind and spirit,” she said.
She concluded by encouraging the students to become men and women of honour and courtesy whose lives would bring hope, healing and lasting change to the Kingdom of Eswatini and beyond.
