The Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), Dr. Haja Ramatula Wurie, is set to officially launch the IPAM Entrepreneurship Week 2026 on Tuesday, March 24, in a move aimed at bridging the gap between academia and the job market.
The four-day event, hosted by the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) under the University of Sierra Leone (USL), will be held under the theme: “Empowering Students to Become Job Creators.”
The Minister’s keynote address and the formal launch of the IPAM Centres of Excellence and Units will serve as the highlight of the opening ceremony. The initiative signals a strategic shift in the country’s education approach—from traditional job-seeking to entrepreneurship and venture creation.
Dr. Wurie is expected to be joined by senior academic officials and international partners, including Associate Professor Ezekiel K. Duramany-Lakkoh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of IPAM; Dr. Ernest Udeh, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship; and representatives from the European Union Delegation.
Following the official launch, the programme will continue with a series of technical sessions aimed at equipping students with practical entrepreneurial skills.
On Wednesday, March 25, a talk show will be held at the Ekundayo Thompson Building, focusing on innovation, job creation, and access to business resources. This will be followed on Thursday, March 26, by a masterclass on business creation and scaling, offering participants an in-depth understanding of building sustainable enterprises.
The event will conclude on Friday, March 27, with a grand entrepreneurship exhibition at the Tower Hill Campus, where student-led startups will showcase their innovations to the public and potential investors.
A key highlight of the Minister’s visit will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), expected to strengthen collaboration between the University and industry stakeholders. The agreement is intended to provide long-term institutional support for the Centres of Excellence and student entrepreneurs.
Organizers say the initiative reflects a broader vision to transform graduates into job creators capable of contributing meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s economic growth.
