MTN Eswatini through its Enterprise Business Unit (EBU) hosted another successful session of its MTN Business Connect Series, this time focusing on equipping local businesses with practical knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Held on Wednesday at The George Hotel in Manzini, the session equipped SMEs with tools to incorporate AI into their daily operations to increase productivity and competitiveness.
The engagement addressed a growing need among business owners to move beyond just AI awareness and start using the technology effectively. The session examined how AI can automate repetitive tasks, improve decision-making, lower business costs, and drive growth, especially in today’s digital economy.
While MTN provided the platform, the morning belonged to Professor Sandile Motsa, Coordinator of the AI Academy and Lecturer at the University of Eswatini, whose masterclass turned a complex topic into a practical guide that business owners can implement right away.
Motsa began by breaking down AI into its core elements: what it is, how it works, and why it’s now an essential tool in modern business. He explained concepts in a straightforward manner that was easy for even non-technical people to understand, highlighting that AI is no longer just a futuristic concept but a practical, real-time solution to everyday business challenges.
He explained how AI can help any business owner in Eswatini work more efficiently. He described AI’s ability to handle repetitive administrative tasks, speed up monthly reporting, create marketing materials in minutes, analyze large datasets instantly, and support more accurate decision-making. He showed how simple instructions (called prompts) can be used to guide AI to perform tasks that once required hours of manual effort.
“AI is not here to replace you,” he said. “It is here to eliminate unnecessary workload so you can focus on the decisions that matter.”
Through live demonstrations, Professor Motsa showed how AI can draft emails, create sales proposals, produce social media posters, develop customer service scripts, and analyze business data.
Participants watched him transform complex business problems into clear prompts, teaching them how to refine and improve AI responses. He stressed that mastering prompt engineering is the new essential digital skill for every professional, highlighting that the more precise the instruction, the more accurate and valuable the output.
“Prompt engineering is the new literacy,” he told the attendees. “If you can describe your problem clearly, AI can help you solve it.”
Lungile Mzizi of MTN Eswatini stated that MTN arranged the session in direct response to the consistent requests from entrepreneurs.
You asked, we listened. These tools are vital for anyone looking to run a profitable business. Big companies are digitally transforming, and SMEs need to understand that they can also transform and compete,” she said.
Mzizi noted that MTN launched the Connect Sessions two years ago after realizing that traditional SME training, such as farming or sector-specific seminars, did not fully address the broad need for digital skills.
“Not everyone is involved in agriculture. Business owners want to know: ‘How do I grow my business?’ Even when we can’t provide capital, we can offer skills. This is what we do best at MTN.”
She further emphasized that digital transformation levels the playing field for small and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to compete with large companies when bidding on contracts or pitching services.
“Anyone with the right skills and the right tools can compete with larger companies. AI makes that possible,” she said.