In a strategic and forward-looking initiative, the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Endowment Fund, formerly known as the UNESWA Foundation officially launched the Emvasi Alumni Club. The event, held at the Kwaluseni Campus, marked a significant step in the institution’s ongoing journey towards long-term financial sustainability and institutional resilience.
Established in 2004 as a semi-autonomous trust, the UNESWA Endowment Fund has, over two decades, mobilised more than E170 million in financial and in-kind support for the university. Its efforts have spanned agriculture, information and communications technology, infrastructure development, academic advancement and investment initiatives. However, in the face of declining public and private funding, the fund has recognised the urgent need to diversify its income streams and strengthen its financial base.
Chief Executive Officer Vulindlela Simelane noted that the recent transformation of the foundation into a fully-fledged Endowment Fund marks a shift towards a ‘more resilient hybrid funding mechanism’ with an emphasis on investment and commercial growth. He added that this strategic realignment embraces financial sustainability as a core operational philosophy, ensuring that UNESWA remains well-positioned to fulfil its national mandate of developing the kingdom’s human capital in alignment with modern labour market demands.
The fund’s five-year strategic plan, approved earlier this year, projects revenue of E100 million over three years beginning in the 2025/26 financial year. Central to this plan is the establishment of six business units, including the newly launched Emvasi Alumni Club, designed to generate income while enhancing stakeholder engagement. Other units include the Umfundzate Skills and Capability Development Initiative, Smart Infrastructure Fund, Business Enterprise Unit, Research and Development Fund and Investments.
The Emvasi Alumni Club, launched under the theme Connect | Empower | Elevate, aims to reconnect graduates with their alma mater through professional networking, economic empowerment and shared social responsibility. The club offers five product lines and 17 product types tailored to meet the diverse needs of alumni, staff, students and friends of the university.
Among its flagship offerings is the Ligcabho LemaSwati Alumni Clubhouse, a multipurpose sports and leisure facility featuring a gym, content hub, Wi-Fi access, swimming pool, squash courts, coffee shop and branded merchandise store.
Speaking at the launch, Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala commended the Endowment Fund’s proactive approach, describing the initiative as a ‘timely response to the university’s financial turnaround strategy.’ He emphasised the Club’s potential to strengthen community engagement and promote a culture of giving back, stating: “This project arrives at a pivotal time as UNESWA transitions from financial distress towards stability, fostering an environment conducive to learning, research, innovation and enterprise.”
Beyond social engagement, the club incorporates practical empowerment initiatives such as an Affiliate Marketing Programme, enabling members to earn commission through referrals and a Business-to-Business Partner Programme designed to connect service providers and alumni entrepreneurs with commercial opportunities.
Looking ahead, the Alumni Club plans to host a vibrant calendar of activities, including a homecoming gala dinner, music festival, sports tournament and family fun day. Membership is open to all UNESWA alumni, staff and friends, with benefits that include lifetime registration and access to exclusive rewards.
Professor Thwala concluded with a rallying call: “I urge all graduates and friends of UNESWA — from the days of UBBS, UBS, UBLS to the present — to join the Emvasi Alumni Club. Together, we can build a financially sustainable and globally competitive university.”
The launch of the Emvasi Alumni club not only reflects UNESWA’s innovative approach to fundraising, but also reinforces the vital role of alumni in sustaining higher education and shaping Eswatini’s future through collaboration, empowerment and lifelong learning.
