MBABANE – Siyabonga Mavuso of Fundukuwela High has been crowned as Young Innovator and Inventor of the Year at the Asisungule Eswatini-Inventors and Innovators Awards.
The awards were held at the Royal Science Technology Park yesterday. It has been stated that the awards are an alliance between Government and the private sector to encourage innovation in Eswatini.
As posted on government Twitter account, Minister of Information Communications and Technology Princess Sikhanyiso said breakthroughs in Science and Technology continue to lead to the transformation of industrialization and the accumulation of wealth by many societies around the world.
“The Ministry of ICT continues to create an enabling environment for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Kingdom of Eswatini to socio-economic development and attain global competitiveness,” she said.
Meanwhile, Standard Bank Chief Executive Officer Mvuselelo Fakudze said, through his representative, “We believe in the future of Eswatini. These awards are a true representation of our combined commitment to capacitate the local economy with quality inventions and innovations that are going to solve societal problems,”
MTN FINTECH CEO Sam Shongwe said it was their belief that such initiatives will continue to enable Government, RSTP, and MTN Fintech to collaborate with their expertise and resources facilitating the attainment of Eswatini’s digital and innovation agenda.
There were nine award categories with first prize winners receiving E5 000 and those placed second and third receiving E3 000 and gift hampers, respectively.
Winners:
ICT: Innovazania; FinTech: EswaVas;
Food and Agriculture: Sibongile Beverages; BioTech & Health: Dimensional Systems.
- Engineering and Industrial Designs: Phiwa Dlamini
- Climate Change/Environment Solution: Hygiene Enviro;
- Young Innovators and Inventors: Siyabonga Mavuso
- Inventors and Innovators Living with Disability: Majahonkhe Masuku and Mancoba Magagula;
- Female Game Changer Award: Blessing Nkatha.
