By Usman Fambuleh
The IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEEI) successfully hosted its first-ever Entrepreneurship Fuck-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 Fuck-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 Fuck-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 Fuck-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).
