Minister of Information, Communications and Technology Savannah Maziya has officially opened a four-day Capacity Strengthening Workshop aimed at advancing the operationalisation of the Eswatini National Research Council (NRC).
The workshop, which began on Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Mbabane, brings together key stakeholders and experts as the country works towards strengthening the capacity and institutional framework required to make the National Research Council fully operational.
Running from August 25 to 28, 2026, the workshop is being held under the theme, “Realising a 50-Year Vision: Unleashing Eswatini’s Potential Through a Fully Operational National Research Council.” 
Opening the workshop, Maziya emphasised the need for research generated in Eswatini to have a tangible impact on the country’s development priorities.
She urged stakeholders to ensure that research is not only academically relevant, but also responsive to the needs of emaSwati and the wider African continent.
The minister said the country’s research agenda should focus on producing knowledge that can address real challenges and contribute to improving people’s lives.
She further stressed the importance of inclusive research and innovation, calling for an ecosystem in which no one is left behind and where the benefits of research reach communities across the country.
The workshop comes as Eswatini seeks to strengthen its research, science, technology and innovation ecosystem as part of its long-term national development ambitions
