By Foday Moriba Conteh – 24 August 2019
The Managing Director of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) on Friday 23rd August, 2019 met with three young Sierra Leoneans entrepreneurs who participated in the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurs program 2019. The meeting took place at their Headquarter Office on Charlotte Street in Freetown.
The meeting came prior to the just concluded TEF Entrepreneur mentorship program in Abuja, Nigeria. This yearly event seeks to promote young entrepreneurs and businesses across Africa and create the enabling environment for interaction among business owners and the mentorship of youths. It is the aim of this forum to prioritize the private sector and encourage entrepreneurship especially among the youths.
Three young Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs namely: Isatu Bundu, Chief Executive Officer of Tesmaraneh, Semion A.T Saffa-Turay Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal Agro Company, Phebean Swill Media and Entertainment graced Africa’s largest gathering, the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneur Program which was held in Abuja, from the 26th to 27th July 2019.
They were opportune to interact with their counterparts from other parts of the continent, shared ideas and even benefitted from mentorship by experts during the plenary sessions.
Speaking during the meeting, the Managing Director of United Bank of Africa, Chinedu Obeta, disclosed how he is very overwhelmed that young Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs participated in this year’s Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) entrepreneurship programme adding that they are committed to support them in order to promote their businesses not only in Sierra Leone but in Africa as a whole.
He encouraged them to be friends of the Bank as they are there to advise them accordingly in terms of how to manage finances and even serve as guarantor for them.
He said that the TEF Youth Entrepreneurship Programme has benefited 7,520 local entrepreneurs across 54 African countries in its five years of existence. He then admonished the current TEF entrepreneurs to encourage others to be part of this event as it will empower young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that will help to move their businesses to successful levels.
Isatu Bundu, Chief Executive Office of Tesmaraneh Group disclosed that she is very excited to be part of the TEF entrepreneur program 2019 adding that it created the platform for her to network with other entrepreneurs around Africa whom she believes will help improve her business.
She also said through the program she has been able to partner with other African entrepreneurs in Kenya and other countries.
She urged the Government to support young entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone as they are really faced with lots of challenges ranging from taxation, shipping etc. which she said are limiting the scope of their businesses.
