The vehicle was unveiled this morning at the FNB Eswatini Head Office by the bank’s chief executive officer, Thokozani TK Dlamini. Sponsored by the FNB Eswatini Foundation, the prize comes with 12 months of insurance and continues a partnership that has seen FNB make a substantial contribution to one of Eswatini’s established business recognition programmes.
For the winner, the Hilux could become a practical addition to the business, depending on its needs. For FNB, the sponsorship is part of a wider investment in recognising entrepreneurs and supporting the businesses they have worked to build.
The announcement also comes as the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards mark their 20th anniversary, making this year's edition an opportunity to look at both the programme's history and the role corporate sponsorship plays in keeping local businesses in the spotlight.
Hosted by the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards were established to recognise business excellence and encourage an entrepreneurial culture in Eswatini. The programme targets small and medium-sized enterprises, giving business owners an opportunity to present their work, compete for recognition and gain exposure beyond their immediate markets.
For an entrepreneur running a small operation, being recognised nationally can be significant. Businesses often spend years building a customer base, managing expenses, employing staff and finding ways to remain competitive. The awards provide a platform through which some of that work can be acknowledged, while the prizes offer financial and material support that may help winners take their businesses further.
The programme also gives participating businesses exposure to potential customers and financial institutions, alongside feedback from the judging process. Its regional competitions allow entrepreneurs from across the country to participate before the national awards bring the year's journey to a close.
The history of the competition reflects the variety of businesses that contribute to Eswatini's economy. Past winners include enterprises in construction, manufacturing, technology, agriculture and other sectors, showing that entrepreneurship takes different forms depending on the products, services and communities a business serves.
The businesses behind the awards
Among the recent winners is Datamatics Eswatini, owned by Sibusiso Baartjies and Thokozane Ginindza, which won the overall national title in 2024. The company works in technology and data-related services, including solutions for areas such as urban planning, healthcare and financial analytics.
Its recognition was followed in 2025 by DJD Investments, led by Duncan Dlamini, which was named overall winner. Operating as DJD Pork, the business specialises in pig farming, processing and the distribution of pork products to retailers, butcheries and other customers.
The company's growth provides a useful example of the kind of enterprise the awards seek to recognise. Established in 2017, DJD Investments had developed its operations to process and distribute more than 80 pig carcasses per week, while employing more than 20 people and engaging additional seasonal workers.
Dlamini received a Toyota Hilux Single Cab valued at more than E600,000 as the 2025 grand prize, sponsored by FNB Eswatini. For an agribusiness that involves moving products through the supply chain, transport is an important part of daily operations.
The example also puts this year's prize into perspective. Although the winning businesses operate in different sectors, the practical needs associated with running and expanding a business can be similar. Equipment, transport, working capital and access to new markets can all influence how far an enterprise is able to grow.
Recognition can also help a business become better known. In reporting published after the 2025 awards, winners spoke about the value of increased visibility, credibility and connections with potential customers and partners. Those benefits may not be measured by the value of a prize alone, but they can form an important part of a business's development.The progression is notable because it demonstrates an increasing financial commitment to a programme focused on local enterprise. FNB was identified as the title sponsor for the 2024 edition, while its support in 2025 included the vehicle awarded to the overall winner. This year's sponsorship continues that involvement.
The bank's contribution is particularly relevant because the awards are not simply about selecting one successful business at the end of the competition. The programme recognises businesses across several categories, including youth-owned, women-owned, start-up, agribusiness, handicraft and innovative enterprises.
The regional awards also give entrepreneurs an opportunity to compete and receive recognition closer to home. In 2026, regional winners have included Eli Olivia, a women-owned agribusiness based in the Lubombo Region, which received the overall regional award. Its cattle farming and crop production operations illustrate the range of activities represented in the competition.
What the support can mean beyond awards night
The value of sponsorship becomes clearer when it is considered in relation to the businesses receiving recognition. A prize that can be put to work, greater visibility among potential customers or an introduction to new business contacts may help an entrepreneur address practical challenges and identify opportunities for expansion.
For a company such as DJD Investments, transport is relevant to moving agricultural products through the supply chain. For a technology company such as Datamatics Eswatini, national recognition can help bring its services to the attention of organisations that may need them. Each business has different requirements, which is why the broader benefits of the awards extend beyond the grand prize.
FNB's contribution is part of this wider picture. Its growing sponsorship provides financial backing for a programme that recognises enterprise, while the vehicle prize offers a tangible example of how that support can reach an individual business.
For now, the unveiling offers a glimpse of what is at stake for this year's competitors. It also highlights the continued involvement of FNB Eswatini and the FNB Eswatini Foundation in a programme that gives local entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their work and compete for resources that may help them grow.
With its combined sponsorship rising to E2 million for the 2026 edition, FNB has made a substantial investment in the awards. The lasting value of that investment will ultimately be seen in what participating businesses are able to do with the recognition, opportunities and support they receive.
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