A Road to Strategic Growth for Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology The agreement marks a major step in strengthening the practical aspect of entrepreneurship education at EBKUST. It aims to equip students with hands-on training and real-world business experience so they can become job creators, understand market systems, and use data to drive innovation and mindset change. Through this initiative, students will be empowered to turn their business ideas into

Building Food Security Through Poultry Feed Across Sierra Leone, poultry farming is emerging as a growing area of opportunity within the agricultural sector. [EK1] Yet farmers continue to face a major challenges – the lack of affordable, locally made feed needed to keep their chickens healthy and productive. Bo Poultry Feed Producers’ Cooperative recognised this gap in the market and is working to bridge it by producing nutritious feed from locally sourced ingredients. Meet M

Transforming the Cassava Value Chain: Rashid Conteh’s Garri and Acheke Enterprise Cassava is Sierra Leone’s second staple food after rice — a crop that sustains families, creates jobs, and drives rural livelihoods. Yet much of its potential has remained untapped, with limited processing and few opportunities for farmers to add value. Through the ILO’s Opportunity Salone Project, that is changing. Local entrepreneurs are industrializing cassava production, improving quality, a

Turning Cassava into Flour, Turning Dreams into Opportunity Cassava flour is reshaping Sierra Leone’s food future — reducing reliance on imported wheat, creating jobs, and adding value for local farmers. Across the country, entrepreneurs supported by the ILO’s Opportunity Salone Project are turning this humble crop into a driver of inclusive growth and food security. One of them is Francis John Sesay, CEO of Cassavity SL Limited, who is proving that with innovation, training,

Breaking Barriers: Inclusion and Opportunity at Imam Moiwa Oil Palm Plantation Despite progress in awareness and advocacy, employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone remain extremely limited. Most survive through informal or subsistence work, while access to formal, stable jobs is rare. Barriers such as limited accessibility, lack of adapted tools, and lingering social stigma mean that talent and potential often go unseen. This exclusion represents

Building Pathways to Prosperity: Handover of Kenema Feeder Road Project In Sierra Leone’s eastern heartland, new infrastructure is paving the way for lasting progress. The Vaahun Junction to Nikabu Feeder Road Project in Kenema District is part of the ILO Opportunity Salone Programme, funded by the European Union (EU), to improve rural connectivity and strengthen key agricultural value chains — cassava, vegetables, and palm oil. By enhancing access to markets, schools, and he

Connecting Communities: Bo District Feeder Road Handover The ILO Opportunity Salone Project together with the European Union (EU) is strengthening key value chains cassava, vegetables, and palm oil by ensuring feeder roads are maintained for easier market access. In Bo District, the road from Boama Station to Ngelehun Badjia had been in need of repair, limiting trade, mobility, and access to services. To address this, five SME contractors were selected to rehabilitate 18.6 ki

Connecting Communities Through Better Roads: Bundulai to Makari Feeder Road Handover in Port Loko The European Union (EU) funded Opportunity Salone Feeder Road Project plays a vital role in strengthening three key agricultural value chains — cassava, vegetables, and palm oil. For the farmers and traders who rely on these sectors, feeder roads are lifelines, ensuring their produce reaches markets safely and efficiently. To keep these connections strong, the ILO supports the re

Turning Waste into Energy and Opportunity In Sierra Leone, most households rely on firewood and traditional charcoal for cooking, contributing to deforestation, rising fuel costs, and health risks from smoke. Green energy alternatives, like briquettes made from agricultural waste, offer a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable solution while creating jobs for youth, women, and people with disabilities (PWDs). Meet Alhassan Islam Tarawaly Alhassan Islam Tarawaly, CEO of Green Ch

Connecting People, Powering Agriculture: Handover of Bombali Feeder Road Project The ILO Opportunity Salone Project, funded by the European Union (EU), is transforming rural connectivity across Sierra Leone by rehabilitating feeder roads that link key agricultural value chains — cassava, vegetables, and palm oil. In Bombali District, the long- challenging Kalangba–Madina Loko road is being upgraded to improve market access, reduce travel times, and create employment for local

Safer Farms, Stronger Workforce: Sierra Leone Champions Agricultural Safety The Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, with the ILO, Sierra Leone Labour Congress, and Employers Federation, is developing a national occupational safety and health framework for agricultural SMEs to promote safer practices, boost productivity, and strengthen livelihoods. The effort promotes safer practices to boost productivity, ensure compliance with labour laws, and strengthen liv

From Small Initiative to National Impact: The Rise of Bo Vegetable Enterprise In Sierra Leone, many women farmers face limited access to tools, storage, and markets, affecting productivity and income. Bo Vegetable Enterprise, led by CEO Jenneh Foday, is changing this by empowering women through large-scale vegetable farming, improving market access, and reducing post-harvest losses building a more resilient and inclusive agricultural sector. Meet Jenneh Foday Bo Vegetable Ent

From Struggles to Success: Abubakarr’s Palm Kernel Journey Palm oil is one of Sierra Leone’s most important agricultural products. Beyond the oil itself, the palm-kernel is often seen as a by-product that holds untapped potential. By processing kernels into oil and other useful products, entrepreneurs are adding value, creating jobs, and reducing waste across communities. From Insight to Innovation Abubakarr Kanu, CEO of Agro-Palm Investment and an enterprising agripreneur fr

Safer Farms, Stronger Workforce: Sierra Leone Champions Agricultural Safety Agriculture employs over 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s workforce, yet it remains one of the country’s most hazardous sectors. From machinery accidents to chemical exposure, farmworkers face daily risks that threaten their health, productivity, and livelihoods. Recognizing these challenges, the Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, in partnership with the International Labour Organization

From Graduate to Agripreneur: Augustine’s Palm Oil Comeback Palm oil is more than a crop in Sierra Leone it’s food, income, and a pathway to dignity for thousands of farmers, traders, and consumers. Across villages and towns, families rely on this vibrant value chain to sustain their livelihoods. Meet Augustine Moiwa Sheriff After graduating in general agriculture from Njala University, Augustine returned to Bomboima (Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema District) to continue his family’

Celebrating Growth with Mary Alpha: Coaching, Farming, and Community Progress In Sierra Leone, many rural farmers and small businesses struggle with limited access to business development services, training, and mentorship. This often hampers productivity, growth, and the ability to scale. Mary Alpha, a licensed Lead Trainer, business consultant, and coach, is helping bridge this gap by empowering rural entrepreneurs with the skills, guidance, and support they need to succeed