The third edition of the Training of Trainers (ToT3) under the Sierra Leone Education in Entrepreneurial Pedagogy and Skills (SLEEK) Project officially commenced yesterday, Tuesday 25 November 2025, at the UNIMTECH European Hall in Freetown.
The workshop marks the first in-country consortium activity to be hosted in Sierra Leone, signalling a major milestone for local higher education and entrepreneurial capacity-building.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming statements from Prof. Osman Alimamy Sankoh, Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH). He was joined by the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), and the Deputy Vice Chancellors of USL/IPAM and UNIMAK, as well as the CEO of Innovation SL.
Prof. Sankoh described the moment as historic, noting that UNIMTECH itself is a testament to entrepreneurial ambition. He reflected on the institution’s evolution from a small computer training centre founded by Prof. Dr. Paul Kamara and Dr. Paula Kamara, into a fully accredited private university crediting resilience, vision, and national commitment for the transformation. He also acknowledged the leadership of UNIMTECH’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rosaline Uyanga, and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Patrick Taylor, who were unavoidably absent.
Prof. Osman Alimamy Sankoh, Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH).
Prof. Sankoh further recognised the consortium’s European partners: the University of Alicante in Spain, which coordinates the project, and FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Austria, whose expertise has shaped previous trainings held in Europe. He also commended the dedication of Sierra Leonean partners IPAM, UNIMAK, MMTU, and Innovation Sierra Leone—for their shared commitment to strengthening entrepreneurial education in the country. Special appreciation was extended to Dr. Peter Umar Kamara, UNIMTECH’s institutional lead on the project.
Day one of the workshop introduced participants to the week’s agenda, presented by Cristina Beans, Senior Project Manager and SLEEK Coordinator from the University of Alicante. This was followed by interactive entrepreneurship training sessions led by Dr. Samppa Kamara, an external expert from Alicante, and Prof. Dr. Eduardo Sánchez of the University’s Department of Business Organisation. Activities included The Impossible Market, Play Your Own Way, and sessions designed to foster empathy-driven value creation and collaboration.
Prof. Kanu, Vice Chancellor and Principal of Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU),
In her presentation, Cristina Beans underscored the core purpose of the SLEEK Project:
“The SLEEK project is training the trainers—so they can in turn train others, increasing the reach and long-term impact of the project.”
Cristina Beans, Senior Project Manager and SLEEK Coordinator from the University of Alicante.
She explained that the trainers being developed through the programme are entrepreneurship educators who will drive the success of the newly established Entrepreneurship Academies. Their role includes training other higher education instructors and trainers from external organisations, while also delivering direct capacity-building.
She concluded:
“The SLEEK Trainings of Trainers will enable us to design solid and relevant entrepreneurship courses, while also equipping us to train other academics effectively. This will strengthen Sierra Leone’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and expand opportunities for local entrepreneurs. It is also a commitment to our institutions—and we hope to live up to your expectations.”
A Milestone for Higher Education in Sierra Leone
Prof. Sankoh affirmed that hosting the ToT3 reflects UNIMTECH’s growing role as a key partner in international capacity-building initiatives and highlights Sierra Leone’s progress in embedding innovative, entrepreneurship-focused learning in its higher education system.
He encouraged participants to immerse themselves in a week of collaborative learning, creativity, and knowledge exchange, while enjoying Sierra Leone’s hospitality.
The workshop continues throughout the week, bringing together educators, innovators, and institutional leaders dedicated to shaping the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers in Sierra Leone.
