Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Sierra Leone 2025 concluded a powerful five-day national celebration of innovation, youth leadership, and ecosystem transformation. Held from 17-21 November under the global theme “Together, We Build,” this year’s GEW brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, academia, and development partners to strengthen a shared national ambition for sustainable economic growth.
Hosted by Innovation SL, GEW 2025 was anchored on four core pillars: youth-driven initiatives, impact-focused partnerships, breakthrough innovation, and climate-conscious entrepreneurship creating a unified platform that showcased both the country’s challenges and its rising potential.
Day 1: Opening Ceremony – Setting a National Agenda for Entrepreneurship
The week opened at the Orange Digital Centre with remarks from key partners, including Orange Sierra Leone, GIZ, and the International Trade Centre (ITC). Their messages highlighted commitments to youth empowerment, employment promotion, and digital transformation. His Excellency Patrick McMagnus, Ambassador of Ireland, officially launched GEW 2025, reaffirming entrepreneurship as a driver of inclusive national development.
Kefilwe Kosan (Advisor and M&E Officer) of GIZ Sierra Leone, captured the spirit of the week, noting that "entrepreneurs are central to building resilient communities and sustainable businesses".
A high-level panel on “Unlocking Sierra Leone’s Next 5 Years of Entrepreneurship” addressed systemic barriers. Panellists emphasised that simplifying processes, especially for startup founders, will be key to fostering a resilient enterprise sector, stressing that "policy systems must be simplified, reducing procedural burdens that hinder innovation and growth."
Day 2–3: AI Training, Innovation and Capacity Building
Mid-week activities focused on practical innovation and capacity building through the AI Practical Training for Hubs, delivered in partnership with ITC Ready Salone. The training equipped 49 hubs and ecosystem leaders with strategies to integrate AI into operations, automate bottlenecks, and strengthen compliance systems.
Participants reported a significant mindset shift, recognising AI as an essential tool for efficiency, monitoring, and scale. The sessions reinforced the message that “Digital transformation is no longer optional; AI adoption is essential for Sierra Leone to compete globally.”
Complementing the AI sessions, the Build & Learn and SLEEK Project discussions engaged universities, hubs, and youth on embedding entrepreneurship within education systems. These dialogues reinforced the need for practical learning, industry collaboration, and compliance, confirming that “Continuous capacity-building is vital for high-impact and resilient entrepreneurship.”
Day 4: Women in Entrepreneurship and the Launch of the M2M Program
GEW’s fourth day centred on gender inclusion through Dare 2 Aspire: Women in Entrepreneurship, featuring keynote speaker Prof. Miriam Conteh-Morgan. Her message highlighted women’s transformative role in leadership and enterprise.
The launch of the Mentor-to-be-Mentor (M2M) Program marked a major step toward building a long-term pipeline of female mentors. A dynamic panel featuring leading entrepreneurs explored leadership, strategic mentorship, and resilience.
The day concluded with a pitch competition celebrating young and women-led innovators. “We Yone Brownie,” the Senior Category Winner, secured a Le 10,000 prize for her innovative agri-business solution. This day reinforced the core message that “A supportive, gender-responsive ecosystem significantly increases women’s participation and leadership.”
Day 5: Sustainable Fashion – Creativity Meets Climate Consciousness
The week closed with Sustainable Fashion: Green Dreams, Bold Designs, celebrating Sierra Leone’s creative sector and its growing shift toward ethical production and circular fashion. Young designers showcased upcycled materials, eco-friendly designs, and innovative interpretations of modern African fashion. A poetry performance by Wisdom Bryant added a cultural highlight to the closing ceremony.
A Unified Call to Action
GEW Sierra Leone 2025 concluded with a powerful message: entrepreneurs are nation builders. The week not only showcased emerging talent but also defined the next steps to strengthen the ecosystem, improving access to finance, modernising with AI, prioritising compliance, and nurturing women and youth leadership.
As Sierra Leone looks to 2026, GEW 2025 has set a new benchmark for collaboration, creativity, and sustainable enterprise growth.