By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Nedbank Eswatini has announced a sponsorship contribution of eighty thousand Rands (R80,000.00) towards the upcoming Eswatini National Media Awards, the Eswatini National Association of Journalists (ESNAJ said through a press statement sent to this Swaziland News on Friday evening.

Speaking when announcing the sponsorship, Nedbank Eswatini Managing Director, Fikile Nkosi, emphasised the critical role of the media in society.

“The media, as members of the Fourth Estate, play a critical role in informing, educating, and empowering communities. A strong and ethical media sector fosters transparency, accountability, and dialogue - key pillars for community development and economic growth. Nedbank’s purpose is to do good for individuals, families, businesses, communities, and society at large. Supporting the Eswatini National Media Awards aligns seamlessly with this purpose by recognising excellence in journalism, strengthening the sector’s capacity to serve the public interest, and promoting ethical reporting standards. We believe that when the media thrives, communities thrive. And when communities thrive, so does the economy. This sponsorship reflects our commitment to partnerships that make a meaningful difference in our communities,” said the Nedbank Eswatini Managing Director. 

The Eswatini National Media Awards are jointly stewarded by the Eswatini National Association of Journalists (ESNAJ) and the Eswatini Editors Forum (SEF) alongside implementing partner, the Marketing Advertising Research Council (MARC), following a strategic relaunch aimed at restoring the Awards as a credible national institution after a twelve-year hiatus.

Welcoming the sponsorship, ESNAJ expressed deep appreciation for Nedbank Eswatini’s early and continued support.

“We, as ESNAJ, are thankful to Nedbank Eswatini for this significant sponsorship, which will go a long way in making the National Media Awards a tremendous success. The Nedbank sponsorship is particularly remarkable, as the green bank was the first to believe in this project and recognise the value of investing in it. For that, we are deeply grateful as we embark on a long journey to revive the Association and restore credibility to the profession. We are glad that Nedbank Eswatini is walking this journey with us,” said ESNAJ Secretary General Ntombi Mhlongo.

On another note, the Editors Forum echoed the importance of partnerships that strengthen professional standards and institutional credibility within the media sector.

 The Eswatini National Media Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in journalism across multiple categories and aim to inspire continued excellence, integrity, and innovation within the profession.

 The Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, 22 December 2025, at the Royal Villas-Ezulwini.