Times Of Swaziland: MTN ESWATINI INVESTS IN E-COMMERCE YOUTH TRAINING MTN ESWATINI INVESTS IN E-COMMERCE YOUTH TRAINING ================================================================================ Mhlengi Magongo on 06/06/2022 08:17:00 EZULWINI - MTN Eswatini continues to advance its digital footprint and adherence to the demands of the fourth industrial revolution by investing towards e-commerce. MTN Eswatini has signed a tripartite Memorandium of Understanding (MoU) with Junior Achievement (JA) Eswatini and Enactus Eswatini to train and develop young people’s digital skills and e-commerce knowledge. The entities launched the Doer’s Master Class at MTN Eswatini Headquarters on Friday. This will be a training session for entrepreneurs who are interested in advancing their digital knowledge and further provide services online. Platforms The training began on Friday and a total of 80 entrepreneurs sourced out by JA and Enactus would be part of the three-week long training, which will be conducted virtually in JA platforms. Speaking during the launch, MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wandile Mtshali said the training was part of the 21 days of Y’ello Care activities aimed at empowering communities to drive economic recovery and skills development. Mtshali said the digital skills training was important because most business transactions and services were rendered online and the country should not be left out. “We (MTN Eswatini) are going to support digital skills training because the 4th industrial revolution is upon us and we should embrace it,” he said. The CEO also mentioned that young people needed digital skills and an understanding of e-commerce because that where the money was. He said the MTN Bushfire electronic payment system was created locally by a liSwati and they were able to use the services during the event. System Mtshali said the electronic payment system was not the only e-service they used but they needed to change the current way of doing business. He said there is gap in digital skills and young entrepreneurs are expected to feel it up. “Our aim is to empower young people so that they can come back to testify on what they have benefitted from the classes as well as e-commerce,” he said. The CEO further mentioned that young people should come together and come up with a viable business idea so that they can create employment for others. He said job opportunities are scarce nowadays because most young people are focused on being employed than creating employment. Meanwhile, JA Eswatini Executive Director Phetsile Masilela said the tripartite Mou is aimed at improving techonolgy and innovation skills in the business sector for the youth. She said a majority of the young people in the country lacked technological skills which are needed for the sustainability of the environment. “Environmental skills in doing business among the youth are necessary and they have innovative potential which needs to be combined with technological advancement,” she added. Masilela also mentioned that the initiative will enhance the youth’s contributions towards economic empowerment and promotion of better health.