Student Agro-Processing Pitch Night

Agro-processing refers to the addition of value to raw agricultural material through product transformation; postharvest grading, sorting, washing, and packaging; and storage and distribution.

Six students with ideas on agro processing from Njala, FBC, UNIMAK, IPAM will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.  This edition of the Freetown Pitch Night is in partnership with SL Agcelerator– a program under the Sierra Leone Agro Processing Competitiveness Program.

The Sierra Leone Agro – Processing Competiveness Project (SLAP- CP) focusses on providing solutions to key market failures inhibiting competitiveness of the agro processing sector and limiting firms and SME productivity in Sierra Leone. The SLAP – CP’s mission is to develop through its accelerator programme, high growth potential SMEs with the capacity to disrupt, expand and consolidate on the huge agribusiness potential that the country’s agricultural sector has to offer.

The six students chosen to pitch where:

To be completed.

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First Orange Social Venture Prize

Freetown Pitch Night organised the first Orange Social Prize event in Sierra Leone.

The contest aims to reward the best innovative and socially responsible business projects in Africa and the Middle East. Three entrants will compete to pitch to an international jury in Cape Town.

The three finalist where as follows:

Agro Fish farm company Ltd is company that focuses on fish farming business we are growing tilapia, and it is one the specie that is culturable in Sierra Leone. As founder I decided to venture in this sector because I studied Aquaculture and fisheries management in School and also I have realized that malnutrition is well spread in among children (0-5years) pregnant women and lactating mothers in rural communities.   In addition that we have verse wetlands in these settlement that are not effectively utilized,  so we converting some these wetlands to construction fish pond and that is the  facility  we are using to grow our fish  from fingerlings (baby fish) to table size (Mature fish). We start a pliot phrase in 2017 and the result was awesome and now we are on our second cycle.

As company we are have able to employ 30 part time workers and three full time staff,  also we have provide sustainable livelihood for some fish sellers  because before our intervention  they have to  long distance  to get the local fish they sell and sometime  it will not be available be the sources is not sustainable. However, we have engaged in indentifying local fish within Bo town presently we have 10 that we wish to work with and provide input and training for them as well. Local farmer are involved in this sector but they have not be able to scale-up because of some problem in the industry which are no fish feed, lack technical skills and lack of equipment.

  

Production of Biogas using Cow – dung as a preferred energy fuel in rural Areas for Cooking

Sierra Leone`s energy consumption is dominated by biomass of which 80% of the energy generated for cooking is derived from tradition fuel (firewood and Charcoal), with 64% of the total population living in rural provinces. The harvesting of this fuel will lead to serious environmental degradation and effects of high rate of unemployment (74%). These practices threaten the health and quality of lives of women and children in particular; rapid urbanization and this will affect the ecological balance and biodiversity of the country. This project focuses on how to use cow – dung as a preferred energy source for cooking in rural communities, with its benefits for example; providing sustainable clean green biogas, production of fertilizers, mitigate high unemployment rate etc.

 Edutainment Network (E Net)

This project started as a response to meet the educational and capacity building needs of the growing population of secondary school pupils and youths in the form of an online student resource center, that is an E learning web portal and Mobile App. The main aim is to provide Quality Educational contents/modules/courses for young minds still in the schooling system through new IT technologies like an e learning web portal and mobile App providing FREE Quality learning resources, training, counselling, exam preparation, private testing (online), ICT and basic courses and more to make them more productive and workforce ready to meet the changes and challenges of this digital age. We Provide students the access to quality learning materials in several multimedia and SCORM format. We intend to transform our traditional learning methods, to promote more student collaboration and innovation through a digital learning environment and a student centered workplace/study place. A strategic partnership with a mobile network operator through either a subscription bundle like the one currently used for Facebook and WhatsApp for the Mobile App or an agreement to make our website freely accessible by students who wish to benefit from our offerings through their network will unleash a new wave of excitement and interests to pupils. The blueprint of this proposal is to nurture minds, talents and skills of students for socio-economic development and to empower them to be self-reliant and self-sufficient and above average working professionals.

Aminata Kandeh of Agro Fish Farm emerged as the winner. She got a SLL 10.million prize. Ednet finished in second place and Bio gass in third.

The winners was presented with the various prizes by the top management of Orange Sierra Leone.

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Kaifala Mansaray

Am Kaifala mansaray, an architectural student from the Limkokwing university of creative technology Sierra Leone, 
studying Interior Design and also the creative director of Design Cube an upcoming architectural and interior design company.

I would be pitching a great solution to the current housing crises the country is facing and precisely Freetown. 
Which is container housing the most affordable and quick built home. With benefits of been low cost , Eco-friendly, designed off grid and responds to the business, social and environmental need. Which we as a company here working towards a large reduction in the percentage of this crises ,with our container housing idea for the next year or two to come.

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Sorie Sankoh

Sorie is the founder for SaloneBuy.com a free listing website and a mobile app that allows businesses to post their product online and advertise for free. Sorie is also the founder for CARDO Sierra Leone, an NGO. He is passionate about helping children from rural communities. Growing up in a poor family himself. Sorie later perfected his computer skills and enrolled for a degree in Information Technology at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) University of Sierra Leone.
At 18, he was able to apply these skills repairing computers to help earn money for his NGO. His skills include, intermediate level in web-app development (PHP – Laravel, and JavaScript – Vue.Js), and have developed a few personal projects. Also, he is involved in tech advocacy. 
“He is a firm believer in local solutions that can cause global impact, and that technology, and youth-power has a lot to play in the development of the new face of Africa. He loves travelling and exploring new places as this helps his creative process.”

In December, 2018. Sorie launched SaloneBuy.com, Sorie distinguish himself in the I.T. field as a next generation entrepreneur. He would like to continue his entrepreneurial spirit to benefit pan-Africa at large and would like to continue to provide structured and innovative solutions to benefit all of Africa. He moves forward with an emphasis on social and economic benefits with the ultimate goal of propelling economic prosperity and social progress together as one platform. “I feel “technology for the public good” is imperative to a civil society and will help guide competitiveness and free market principles in Africa as well as providing for a stable, productive, and democratic future.” Sorie Affirmed in an interviewed.
Sankoh spent most of his time advocating for rural children with adverse poverty in support of education in Sierra Leone dedicating his time to help others in need, especially children in any way he could. Since he is from a small remote village in the Northern part of Sierra Leone, he needed to walk about 14 miles to attending to school.
His tireless determination, passion and commitment for education helped him to reach this milestone. 
The fulfillment that came with helping children in a developing country like Sierra Leone inspired him to advocate for vulnerable orphans and out of school children, devoting his time to provide other children the opportunity to receive quality education.

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Abdulai Barrie

My name is Abdulai Barrie, I am a Sierra Leonean, I am a writer, Filmmaker and entrepreneur, I enthusiast, dedicated to work, I accomplished what ever that is set to accomplish, even doe I came from a deprived family background but I strongly believe that I was created for a purpose and what ever I do takes me closer to purpose, I man on a mission, I believe in God and in myself, I am the founder and Director of Creative Media Network SL, a multimedia organization set up to raise awareness on social issues using film to tell untold stories affecting society, also I am founder of BaBa E-commerce Agric Food Market an alternative market to small and medium scale farmers, the idea is born out of Challenges presented by the imperfect Agric market, that doesn’t give space to small and medium scale farmers to fair competition, that why I want to set up an E-commerce Agric market that is open and encourage them our local farmers and food producer to trade both locally and internationally.

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Seye Olusoj

Seye Olusoji is an Art Director and a Photographer, he is the CEO of Seyestar Studios (Seyestar.com). 
Olusoji Seye is a 21st Century Photographer, Director (movie, and theatre), Actor, and Event Planner. Seye has over 5 years working experience in digital photography. The co-founder of Seyestar, an outlet that handles projects related to Photography, Theatre Arts, Film Production, and Print Media. He takes great photographs, still, motion documentaries and graphics design.

He started his career as a Performing Artist, in the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. After his graduation, he founded Sè Theatre Arts in Ilorin. During his cause of study in the university, he held the position of an assistant director for a stage play titled: Octorush. His directorial skills won him a departmental award as the “Best Drama Performance of the Year” in 2016, and the title of the play he directed was “Ijaye” by Wale Ogunyemi. This same play also won an award for best costume, and was handed to him by the Performing Arts Students Association Award (PASA Award).

He traveled with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) group to represent Kastina State in Mangu, Jos. Where the group emerged the second in Dance and came third in Drama. In 2019, He staged a theatrical project in Freetown Sierra Leone titled: The Suitcase. The project was in collaborations with another theatre troop (Stage to Stage Marshalls) and the British Council in Freetown. Sierra Leone.

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Frederica Williams

Meet Frederica Williams on Wednesday August 21st at 6pm- the British Council.

Frederica Williams, a graduate from the University of Sierra Leone has over the years succeeded in turning her childhood passion and hobby into a business venture.
She started J&F Fashion Designs in 2005 and the business has evolved from a one-woman shop to one that now employs over 20 staff. She blends excellent design 
skills, strong technical background and solid fashion sense to create innovative garments for both individuals and corporate Institutions.

She has a broad working experience, a skilled manager, a dedicated team player and a social entrepreneur offering free apprenticeship programs.She has created and produced costumes for both local and international beauty pageants, organized fashion shows and also participated in many, a motivational speaker and has won several awards including
Best Designer Miss Sierra Leone 2014.She is also a beneficiary of several local and international business development programs AWEP, PUM,AFFORD to name a few.

Her greatest achievement however has been the resurrection of a dying cultural fashion of the Krio tribe of Sierra Leone locally known as PRINT. This historical style of hand-cut patterns is now widely accepted by both the young and non krio alike. Her dream is to open a Fashion Institution to transfer knowledge to youths nationwide thus contributing to the socioeconomic development of Sierra Leone.

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Fashion and Creative Arts Pitch Night on Wednesday August 21st

The Fashion and Creative Arts Pitch Night on Wednesday August 21st was more than just entrepreneurs pitching. It was a celebration of ordinary people overcoming challenges to realize their dreams. Read one such story…that of Zainab Sheriff, the founder of Zedzee Agency:

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Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks for attending the fashion pitch nigt .

This event is mostly important because it inspires creative minds and gives room for aspiring creative minds to bloom.

I’m here as Zainab Sheriff, the CEO of ZedZee Modeling Inc but I’m standing here tonight to speak as a model on behalf of the modelling and fashion industry as a whole.

As a little girl growing up on the eastern side of Freetown, people said many things about me, most of them were negative. But if I have to be honest they also said I looked like Naomi Campbell and everytime they had said that I will say to myself I can be her.

At age 18 I found myself at the center of all vulnerabilities, my mom had died, I have given birth to a child and it had died. I was confused and broken, with zero self esteem and no confidence. I found myself most times wondering what I was going to do with my life.

People also said that Education is the key, so I said I will go back to school. But going back to school involved money.

There was a beauty pergeant show happening all the way on the other side of Freetown, it was the biggest pergeant of all, Its was Miss Paddy’s 2004.

I decided to enter the competition to be Miss Paddy’s 2004. They were giving Le 200,000 as consolation prize to all contestants. I needed money to go back to school and Le200,000 was more than enough at the time. Therefore my aim was just to get the Le200,000.

I entered the competition and luckily for me I ended up winning more than I bargained for, the grand prize which was USD1000. The exact equivalent of that is three million leones at the time.

Ladies a gentle men, I want u to close your eyes and picture an 18 years old girl, who had lost her mother, herself and her self-confidence. One who had given birth and lost her child, one who had dropped out of school and had gone through countless abuse. After the crown she had won millions of leones. At that moment she considered herself rich. She had won the crown and certified as the most beautiful girl. Her friends and family are celebrated and cheered her. 15 years on look at that girl now, look at me.

I was saved that day. The people that created that platform for me to bloom, the organisers of that event and the people that participated on that event, saved me.

They gave me the confidence and reassurance; the zeal to become what I’m today and to stand here tonight I preach the importance of platform and support in the fashion industry, which equals to what the organisers of Pitch Night are doing tonight.

What I am pitching for tonight is for the organisers of this event to not stop, to continue. I’m asking and seeking for the organizers of this event to partner with us, me and every model and designers here tonight or in the industry as a whole, to have an official fashion week. We want you to partner with us to have a show, where designer’s, models, makeup artists, cameramen and women, choreographers, international designers, music makers will meet and inspire each other to grow.

What I’m pitching for is for you to partner with us to have a Sierra Leone Fashion Week or something of the sort.

We can invite international designers and they can invite us and in the end growth will prevail for models and designers and everyone who benefits from the growth of entertainment .

Thank you very much

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Open Night

On Wednesday July 31st Freetown Pitch Night held ‘Open Night’. Four entrepreneurs with original ideas pitched to an audience of enablers, partners, investors, collaborators and peers.

Report coming soon.

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Report on FPN “Social Entrepreneurship” event, 26 June 2019 at 1830

Freetown Pitch Night (FPN) held their monthly program on the of theme “Social Entrepreneurship”.  The focus was on ideas that provide opportunities for youth in their communites. The program was hosted at British Council, Tower Hill, Freetown and was well attended, with 89+ guests  in number, including the  Global Entrepreneurship Network SL (GEN SL)  team, FPN sponsors, company executives of, donor organizations, entrepreneurs and young professionals.

Background:

According to an article published on the UNDP (SL) website, approximately 70% of youth are under-employed or unemployed, with an estimated 800,000 youth actively searching for employment. Furthermore, illiteracy remains a persistent challenge, with youth that lack skills and education finding it extremely difficult to compete for the limited jobs available. The relevance of the topic cannot be over emphasized, as the challenges for youth are immense.  To a large extent the solution can only come from the people that suffer the burden. The audience for the event were from all backgrounds. 

Opening Statement & Panelists:

An Opening Statement was made by Mr. Tony Reilly, Country Director of the British Council, the who gave a brief rundown of the last FPN and a background to the current theme. He measured three pioneers with regard to the topic “Social Entrepreneurship”. The Panelists were Estelle Van Der Ekout, General Manager of Brussels Airline,  Dr. Umaru Bah, CEO at Data Wise, and Mr. Abdul Salam Kamara, Lecturer at the University of Sierra Leone.

The Pitchers:

Four entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to pitch their ideas. The topics were linked with the breaking of stigmas, matching youth to livelihoods, motivating good deeds, addressing health, energy and other basic needs, recycling, enterprise, assistive technology and the prevention of violence.

  • Samuel A.S Kamara. Founder,  Enet Salone: 

Samuel pitched his idea on the area of technology. He talked about the poor and weak educational system of Sierra Leone, which he said lacked the resources that would aid the essence of quality education in the country. He explained that his company provides educational materials, which will serve as link in breaching the gap of our traditional way of learning, to a well supporting material which will be in line with modern day learning.

T: +23278105453

  • Basiru Mansaray. Founder, OS Preneur:

Basiru pitched his ideas on Assistive Technology. He said Sierra Leone is currently grappling with unemployment.  Because of the lack of jobs many youths have decided to own their own enterprise, yet there remains a lack of infrastructure to support these young businesses. OS Preneur is solving the problem by providing a way to easily register young start-ups, access tools, resources and networks and, in the long term, provide access to funding.

T: +23279502404

  • Yaniv Anthony. CEO of Webber Energy SL Ltd: 

Yaniv pitched his ideas on recycling, pointing at Bomeh dumping site as a decade-long problem of waste dumping. He also said little has been done to tackle the problem of waste from the government side. He emphasized how his company is transforming this waste to bio-energy, which can be used as fuel for cooking and also for agricultural purposes. He also said the technology responsible for the transformation of the wastes to fuel is been created by his company. The company carry out education on how to use the technology and encouragement is given to children in the area to understand the important of renewable energy, as this will help in the reduction of pollution and diseases.

Email:

T: +23276475726

  • Rebecca Jawara, Founder at Mental Health Program:

Rebecca pitched her idea on how important it is to tackle the issues of mental illnesses, as she said, according to a report from World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four individuals suffers from mental health issues. She said her organization will be focusing on raising awareness about the illness, on with she said little is been done to educate the population on the state of the illness. With regards to disseminating the information, she suggested we  would start by approaching people on a one-to-one basis, organizing seminars or events.

Email: jawarabecca62@gmail.com

T: +23279502404

Guest Speaker

Mr. Walid Bahson, CEO of  Premier Environ Solution (SL) Ltd:

Mr Bahsoon gave a compelling presentation on waste management. He further encouraged the pitchers to keep focussed, as there lie huge challenges ahead to survive and realize their ideas, in terms of creating a sustainable revenue model.

Panel Review & Closing Remarks:

The panelists gave important and critical feedback to each of the pitchers and expressed their delight at seeing young Sierra Leoneans with such aspirations. Saying that challenges bring opportunities, they were pleased that young entrepreneurs were welcoming challenges and exploring new opportunities.

We were privileged to have two closing remarks. Firstly from Mr. Sami of the EcoBank Micro Finance, one of the sponsors, who advised the pitchers to start saving and, most importantly, have focus on their undertakings in the midst of challenges.

The second remark was by World Bank Country Director Gayle Martin. She said “Growth is not going to come from young people wanting to get a job, growth is going to come from entrepreneurs. My first time at this event, I am very encouraged.’ 

Thanks and appreciation to our sponsors, guests and everyone for making the program a success.

By Abdul Karim Mansaray

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