Over 300 young people have officially graduated from a year-long intensive Digital Skills Program at Ezulwini, an initiative designed to equip youth with the 21st-century skills needed to succeed in Eswatini’s rapidly changing digital economy.
The Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) conducted the training program and issued certificates of completion to participating students.
Launched in April 2025, the free initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by equipping youth with essential digital literacy and technical skills. Graduation ceremonies are being held across four key regions, showcasing the program’s transformative impact on the community level.
The training at the Ezulwini Community ICT Centre involved 1,702 participants, with 1,327 earning certifications and 342 completing the entire curriculum. This results in a certification rate of over 77%, highlighting both the program’s effectiveness and its participants’ commitment.
Speaking at the ceremony, ESCCOM Chief Executive, Mvilawemphi Dlamini, praised the graduates for their courage and resilience. “Today, we celebrate commitment, growth, and opportunity,” said Dlamini. “We gather not merely to award certificates but to recognize the courage of young people who have chosen to invest in themselves and their futures. These numbers matter because meaningful access to ICT services is about more than connectivity; it’s about capability.”
Targeting youth aged 18 to 35, the program reached a majority (50%) of participants aged 23-28, with women comprising 73% of graduates, illustrating the initiative’s role in closing gender gaps in digital literacy.
Ezulwini Chief Mashumpu Khumalo commended the graduates for raising the community’s standards and urged them to use their skills to advance local development. “What we celebrate today is greater than certificates,” he said. “We celebrate inclusion, empowerment, and our youth’s ability to shape the future. You are an army armed not with shields and spears, but with ideas, knowledge, and the tools to build a prosperous future.”
Graduates received hands-on training in computer hardware, cybersecurity, data protection, productivity tools, and networking through practical modules like Cisco Packet Tracer. They also developed essential skills in online safety, understanding the 2022 Data Protection Law, and navigating digital platforms—knowledge that prepares them for both employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
One graduate, Gcinile Masina, described the program as life-changing. “Before this course, I struggled to navigate mobile and online platforms. Now, I feel confident managing my personal data and digital identity. This training has empowered me to not only seek opportunities but to create value wherever I go,” Masina said.
The program was offered at no cost, removing financial barriers that often limit access to quality digital education. Its success was achieved through strong partnerships with the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, the Eswatini National Youth Council, MTN Eswatini, and Wanderport, with local leadership from the Ezulwini Umphakatsi ensuring community ownership and sustainability.
Dlamini highlighted the importance of ongoing learning beyond the program. “The digital landscape evolves quickly,” she said. “These certificates are not the end goal but the starting point. Graduates must keep upskilling, adapting, and staying curious to ensure their skills stay relevant and impactful.”
The Ezulwini Community ICT Centre is now shifting to full community use, enabling the local Community Development Committee to manage projects and initiatives that promote digital inclusion, with ESCCOM providing support as needed.
Chief Khumalo urged graduates to use their skills to uplift others. “You are not just job seekers; you are job creators, problem solvers, and the architects of a new Eswatini,” he said.