SLEEK - Sierra Leone

IPAM CEEI Hosts First-Ever Entrepreneurship F**k-Up Night 2026

The IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEEI) successfully hosted its first-ever Entrepreneurship F**k-Up Night 2026 on 31st July 2026 , bringing together students, entrepreneurs, professionals, innovators, and development partners for an evening of honest conversations, inspiring stories, and valuable lessons on resilience and entrepreneurship.

The event created a unique platform where entrepreneurs openly shared their personal journeys, highlighting the challenges, failures, and setbacks they encountered while building their businesses. Through powerful storytelling, engaging performances, and interactive discussions, participants were reminded that failure is not the end of the journey but an opportunity to learn, grow, innovate, and emerge stronger.

Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, who was unable to attend, Deputy Registrar Albert Baio commended the SLEEK Project and the IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation for organizing the maiden Entrepreneurship F**k-Up Night. He noted that the programme had helped participants better understand the realities of entrepreneurship, encouraging them to learn from their mistakes and develop the resilience needed to succeed. He added that many people initially misunderstood the concept of the event until the SLEEK team provided the necessary orientation, making its purpose and impact clear. He urged participants to embrace failure as a stepping stone to personal and professional growth.

Giving an overview of the SLEEK Project in Sierra Leone, Head of Department, Mr. Alex Thomas, explained that the initiative has significantly transformed the country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by creating opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and enterprise development. He encouraged students and other stakeholders to actively embrace the project, stressing that it has the potential to strengthen entrepreneurship and promote sustainable economic development across Sierra Leone.
Earlier, Manager of the IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEEI), Madam Blossom Onike Decker, welcomed participants and explained the significance of the programme. She described Entrepreneurship F**k-Up Night as a platform where entrepreneurs honestly share the mistakes they made when starting their businesses, the lessons they learned from those experiences, and how those setbacks eventually became the foundation of their success. She emphasized that the initiative aims to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs to see failure as an essential part of innovation and business growth.

The programme attracted a diverse audience of students, business owners, professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurship enthusiasts who actively participated in discussions and networking sessions. The event encouraged openness, collaboration, and the exchange of practical experiences that will help shape the next generation of entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Ernest Udeh, Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship expressed their continuous support to the development of entrepreneurship educational development in Sierra Leone and also thanked the European Union- SLEEK project for their support to the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Sierra Leone.
The IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation expressed profound appreciation to the IPAM Management and leadership, including the Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship, the Deputy Registrar, members of the SLEEK Project, the event hosts, storytellers, performers, partners, and every participant whose dedication and support contributed to the success of the maiden Entrepreneurship F**k-Up Night.
The Centre reaffirmed its commitment to creating platforms that inspire entrepreneurship, innovation, resilience, and lasting impact, noting that the success of the inaugural event marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward strengthening Sierra Leone’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The event was hosted by Lecturer Alhaji Dauda Musa Bangura who is also the head of The IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEEI).

Milton Margai Technical University, Congo Cross Campus, hosted its Graduate Entrepreneurship

Venue: Milton Margai Technical University, Congo Cross Campus

Date: Friday, 31st July 2026 Time: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Registration & Networking Participants arrived early and engaged in informal networking, facilitated by Mr. Hassan Kanu.

Welcome Address Delivered by Mr. Mohamed Kapri Kamara, Symposium Chairperson, who emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in addressing graduate unemployment.

Opening Remarks from University Administration Ing. Lewis, Dean of Congo Cross Campus, highlighted institutional commitment to fostering innovation and graduate employability.

Keynote Addressed by Mr. Papa N’jai, Project Coordinator, presented on *“Entrepreneurship as a Pathway for Graduate Employment”*, stressing resilience, creativity, and policy support as critical enablers.

Topic One: Entrepreneurship Education – Bridging Academia and Industry
Speaker: Mr. Peter Jajua, Lecturer
Focus: Curriculum integration, practical training, and employability.
Key Insight: Embedding entrepreneurial skills into higher education curricula ensures graduates are industry-ready.

Topic Two: Access to Finance and Support Systems for Graduate Startups
Speaker: Mr. Coker, Finance Officer, Congo Cross Campus
Focus: Microfinance, venture capital, and government schemes.
Key Insight: Financial literacy and access to diverse funding streams are essential for startup sustainability.

Topic Three: Innovation Hubs
Speakers: Madam Kona Bah and Mr. Samu
Focus: Roles of innovation hubs in nurturing ventures.
Key Insight: Hubs provide mentorship, incubation, and networking platforms that accelerate entrepreneurial success.

Topic Four: Digital Entrepreneurship – Leveraging Technology for Scalable Ventures
Speaker: Mr. Abdulai Sesay, Head of Department, Accounting and Finance
Focus: Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, LinkedIn), personal websites, and online marketplaces (eBay, Alibaba, Amazon).

Key Insight: Digital tools expand market reach and enable cost-effective scaling of graduate-led enterprises.

Topic Five: Policy Frameworks – Creating Enabling Environments for Graduate Entrepreneurship
Speaker: Mr. Abdul Bademba Barrie, Dean of Faculty, Business and Management Studies
Focus: Policy reforms, institutional support, and government incentives.
Key Insight: Effective policies reduce barriers and encourage innovation-driven employment.

Closing Session
Closing Remarks Delivered by Mr. Musa Samuel Koroma, Head of Department, Business Administration, who commended participants and emphasized the need for continuous collaboration between academia, industry, and government.

INNOVATION MEETS CREATIVITY AT MMTU!

Today, the Milton Margai Technical University Visual Arts Department proudly showcased a breathtaking display of innovative painting, weaving, design, and artistic creations.
This milestone marks a powerful step forward for the university, strengthening its reputation as a hub of creativity and entrepreneurship.
It also sets the stage for the future impact of the MMTU Entrepreneurship Academy, inspiring graduates to harness innovation for job creation and community transformation.

The university of Makeni has just concluded their Entrepreneurship seminar in promoting Entrepreneurship Education in Sierra Leone.

Thank you to all the amazing students, traders, community stakeholders, and entrepreneurs for making this seminar a success!
Together, we explored how entrepreneurship education drives innovation, strengthens economic empowerment, and promotes sustainable development.
Your ideas, energy, and commitment inspire us to keep building a culture of creativity and opportunity.
🚀 SLEEK - Sierra Leone Milton Margai Technical University Entrepreneurship Academy Milton Margai Technical University Institute of Public Administration and Management United Methodist University Sierra Leone IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Milton Margai Technical University Graduate Entrepreneurship Symposium 2026

Friday, 31st July | Congo Cross Campus

Empowering graduates as innovators and job creators! 🚀

Join the Faculty of Business & Management Studies, MMTU, under the SLEEK Erasmus+ Project, for a one‑day symposium exploring:
💡 Entrepreneurship education| 💰 Access to finance |🌐 Innovation hubs |💻 Digital Entrepreneurship |and 🏛️ Policy frameworks.

Let’s shape the future of graduate‑led innovation and enterprise! ✨

As a SLEEK partner, Innovation SL is proud to officially announce the launch of SaloneCrowdfunder, a homegrown Sierra Leonean crowdfunding platform designed to bridge the gap in early-stage funding.
​Developed and owned by Innovation SL, the platform was initially funded by UNDP and the UNDP Accelerator Lab between 2021–2022. Since then, Innovation SL have continued to invest in and enhance SaloneCrowdfunder to expand its reach and maximize its impact across Sierra Leone.

Innovation SL – Creating The Future Today Home Slide 1Creating the Feature TodayWelcome to Innovation SLInnovation SL is the leading Entrepreneurship Support Organisation dedicated to fostering a vibrant and resilient entrepreneurial environment within Sierra Leone. Through our deep expertise and unparalleled capacity for delivery , we cont...

Every success story has a few moments we don’t always talk about.

The mistakes, the challenges, the setbacks, and the lessons we picked up along the way are all part of the journey.

Join us for CEEI F**K UP NIGHT 2026 an evening where we share real stories, honest experiences, and the lessons that helped us grow stronger.

Come connect, learn, and be reminded that failure is not the end of the story; sometimes, it is where the biggest lessons begin.

Friday, 31st July 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 CEEI Hub, IPAM University of Sierra Leone

Admission is FREE!
Register here:
https://forms.gle/YDAbo8KPFPyrxepd6

📢 Invitation for Bids – Entrepreneurship Academy Equipment
The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) has launched an Invitation for Bids for the supply and installation of learning equipment to support the establishment of its Entrepreneurship Academy.

🗓 Delivery period: 30 days. Bids will be opened publicly on 31 July 2026 at 12:00 noon, and late submissions will not be accepted.
Interested suppliers are invited to read the full tender notice and find out how to apply by following the link below:
🔗 https://usl.edu.sl/news-detail?slug=invitation-for-bids-institute-of-public-adminstration-and-management-ipamsierra-leone-education-in-entreneurial-pedagology-skills-sleek

USL - University of Sierra Leone University of Sierra Leone - Sierra Leone's premier institution of higher learning since 1827. Explore our three campuses: FBC, IPAM, and COMAHS.

SLEEK PROJECT CERTIFICATES AWARDED TO SIERRA LEONEAN LECTURERS

Date: 4th July, 2026

The University of Alicante, through its Institutional Project Management Office led by Director Carolina Madeleine Herrero, has officially awarded SLEEK Project certificates to successful lecturers from various universities across Sierra Leone.
This recognition celebrates the completion of two intensive modules:Module 5: The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem & Networking (April, 11.5 hours)
Module 6: Designing Industry-Integrated Entrepreneurship Assignments (May, 14.5 hours)
Together, these programs provided over 26 hours of advanced training, equipping educators with world-class entrepreneurial pedagogy and practical tools to strengthen academic and industry collaboration.
This milestone underscores Sierra Leone’s growing commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development through higher education.

Congratulations to all certified lecturers for their dedication and achievement a proud step forward for the nation’s academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem.