3 Emaswati set for Azerbaijan in landmark energy scholarship

Three students from Eswatini are preparing to travel to Azerbaijan to begin specialized studies in the petroleum and energy sector. Brilliance Dlamini, Junior Dalingcebo Dlamini, and Temabhele Shabangu were officially bid farewell by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini at the Cabinet offices on Wednesday.

The students were awarded scholarships by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Brilliance Dlamini and Junior Dalingcebo Dlamini are set to pursue Bachelor of Science degrees in Petroleum Engineering, while Temabhele Shabangu will undertake a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, with a specialization in Oil and Gas Technology, at the Baku Higher Oil School.

The scholarship program follows an official visit to Baku by King Mswati III in May, during which SOCAR pledged to provide educational opportunities for Emaswati students. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, in coordination with the Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC), managed the competitive selection process for the candidates.

During the farewell event, which was attended by ENPC Chief Executive Officer Nontombi Motsa-Maphanga and the students’ families, Prime Minister Dlamini encouraged the trio to maintain discipline and integrity throughout their studies. He emphasized that their performance could influence future opportunities for other students under the partnership between Eswatini and Azerbaijan.

Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Prince Lonkhokhela and Attorney General Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo also addressed the students, noting that they would serve as representatives of Eswatini during their time abroad. The officials highlighted the importance of the training as an investment in the country’s human capital and technical capacity within the energy sector.

Article and image source: eswatiniobserver.com