Women empowered at Women Ignite Seminar
MBABANE - In the words of one of the greatest tennis players, Serena Williams: “The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: Be strong, be extremely kind and above all, be humble.”
These words held true to the Women Ignite Seminar that took place at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini last Thursday. The event attracted women who came to be empowered and endowed with knowledge and wisdom from speakers who have been successful captains in their different fields.
These include the Honourable Minister of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Futhi Tembe, Institute of People Management (IPM) President, Sharon Maziya, Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAAGA) CEO Nonhlanhla Dlamini, Futhi Dlamini and HealthPlus 4 Men National Coordinator, Bonginkosi Ndlangamandla.
The yearly event was themed ‘Celebrate her, she is a woman’, hosted by the IPM, was aimed at empowering women on topics by the speakers, which included career growth, gender-based violence and how gender norms and roles exacerbate GBV. They also discussed ‘keeping the fire burning’ as well as ‘investing optimally’.
The minister, who was the guest speaker at the seminar, spoke on entrepreneurship. She highlighted the importance of the latter, adding that more women needed to start businesses to make more money and also have control over how they spend it.
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She said this could increase the rate of successful business women in Eswatini and lower the rate of GBV, due to women relying on their partners financially, while also boosting the country’s economy.
“What I know is that starting a business is not easy; you have to try and not give up. It does not happen overnight. I have more than 30 years in entrepreneurship; others may say it is luck, not knowing the effort and hard work I have put into where I am. It requires perseverance and determination,” she said.
Maziya also mentioned that women needed to start side hustles, especially if they had a certain skill. Although that does not mean they are entrepreneurs, she said it was equally imperative, especially for their financial growth.
She also said women had the potential to tap, thrive and be successful in the entrepreneurship space and should take advantage and use available opportunities.