In a stunning blend of mystery and corporate collaboration, the Ligcabho LemaSwati Sports Emporium was filled with grandeur, mystery, and luxury on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, as the UNESWA Endowment Fund hosted the 3rd Annual Alumni Gala Dinner under the theme “Masquerade Ball – A Night in Disguise.”
Beyond the elegant masks and red-carpet allure, the event acted as a showcase for the Kingdom’s expanding public-private partnerships, with six major corporate entities offering their prestige and resources to support the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) in its pursuit of financial independence and economic transformation.
Over 200 attendees, including alumni trailblazers, government luminaries, and industry leaders, witnessed an inspiring programme, from Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala’s call to “empower the liSwati child with access to higher education” to the Honourable Minister of Education and Training’s endorsement of diversified funding as “global best practice.” However, it was the strategic presence of corporate partners that elevated the evening into a blueprint for collaborative growth.
Leading the effort were the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA), Liberty, ESCCOM, ESRIC, SMVAF, Eswatini Bank, the consumer goods giant Kellogg Tolaram Eswatini, the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and the university council.
Besides boosting the gala’s success by generating E500,000 in revenue for the Endowment Fund’s E100 million three-year goal, these partnerships demonstrated the strength of business-to-university collaborations in meeting Eswatini’s changing labour needs.
As UNESWA Endowment Fund Chief Executive Officer Vuli Simelane said at the Gala Dinner, “Tonight’s Gala is only the beginning. Your participation drives our hybrid funding model for UNESWA’s long-term financial sustainability.”
To that end, the Endowment Fund is encouraging forward-thinking businesses to join its innovative B2B Partner Programme, a customized platform that offers sponsorship options, exclusive access to alumni recruitment, co-branded R&D projects, and branding opportunities at high-profile events, including the upcoming sports tournament and music festival. Benefits include tax incentives, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) visibility, and direct contributions to human capital that support the national GDP.
With 2025 named the “year of transformation to the promised land” by His Majesty King Mswati III, this gathering at the Masquerade Ball marks the start of a new era. As Board Chairperson Dr. Nozizwe Mulela affirmed, “United in purpose and determination, we will turn UNESWA’s fortunes around.”