By Ncaba Ntshakala
THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security recently reported impressive figures on the turnout of students at the Eswatini National Career Expo (ENCE) 2024, with a total of 20,508 students participating across various venues in the country.
This is contained in the Ministry’s second-quarter performance report presented in Parliament. The ENCE, which serves as a platform to guide Eswatini’s youth in making informed career choices, saw its highest attendance at the Mavuso Exhibition Centre in the Manzini Region, while Mankayane recorded the lowest number of attendees.
The national expo began with an official launch at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini on June 21, 2024, which was followed by regional expos held between June 25 and July 4, 2024, across six venues in the Shiselweni, Lubombo, Hhohho, and Manzini regions.
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The launch was officiated by the Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi and Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla.
It was hailed as it set the tone by emphasizing the significance of the Career Expo in shaping the futures of young people in Eswatini, presenting various strategies for enhancing its impact.
Stakeholders, dignitaries, and participants were briefed on the expo’s overarching goal which is to highlight the importance of choosing the right career paths at the right time to ensure sustainable employability.
The theme for the 2024 expo was, “Right Career Choices and Right Timing Makes It Correct for Sustainable Employability.”
Again, the regional expos drew high school students eager to explore opportunities and receive guidance on their career journeys.
According to the Ministry’s second-quarter performance report for 2024/25, the event achieved varied attendance rates across the regions.
Manzini region, which hosted expos at the Mavuso Exhibition Centre and Mankayane, boasted the highest turnout with a 72.3% attendance rate.
Out of 94 high schools, 68 schools were present, which was said to demonstrate strong engagement from both educators and students.
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Moreover, the Hhohho region, utilizing the Killarney Stadium and Prince of Wales venues, recorded a 61.7% attendance rate with participation from 50 of the 81 high schools.
Interestingly, some schools in this region chose to attend the expo at the Mavuso Exhibition Centre in Manzini rather than their designated venues, indicating the pull of the more centrally located event space.
Meanwhile, the Shiselweni region hosted its event at King Sobhuza Stadium and saw 35 out of its 73 high schools attending, resulting in a 47.9% attendance rate.
The Lubombo Region matched this rate, with 35 out of 73 schools participating at the KaLanga Technical Centre.
The Ministry in the report asserted that the primary goal of the Eswatini National Career Expo is to inspire young people to become job creators rather than job seekers, a mission particularly relevant in the context of Eswatini’s high youth unemployment rate.
With the showcasing of various career paths and entrepreneurial opportunities, the expo aims to empower both in-school and out-of-school youth, including girls and persons with disabilities, to leverage their skills and venture into business.
The events featured exhibitors from a wide range of sectors, including academia, government ministries, funding agencies, and private industries.
This diversity offered students a broad view of the potential career options available to them and how they can align their skills with market needs.
The regional expos were also designed to be informative and interactive, providing students with crucial information from various stakeholders on national and global issues, as well as new opportunities in the workforce.
The exhibitors shared valuable insights, encouraging students to think creatively about how to harness their early-discovered talents to contribute to economic growth.
