Post a comment
The Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) has been awarded over €100,000 from a €700,000 European Union Erasmus grant to implement the Sierra Leone Education in Entrepreneurial Pedagogy and Skills Project (SLEEK), a transformative initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry.
The project was officially launched on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at MMTU’s Congo Cross Campus. It is part of a larger national effort to promote entrepreneurship and real-world skills development in line with the government’s human capital development agenda.
Speaking at the launch, Emmanuel J. Momoh Esq., Director of Higher Education at the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, urged universities to intensify research efforts that inform national policy. He commended MMTU for leading this initiative and encouraged the inclusion of market women and small business owners to broaden the project’s impact.
SLEEK Project Coordinator, Mr. Papa N’Jai, noted that entrepreneurship is relevant across all academic disciplines. He emphasized that the project would help students develop innovative mindsets, tackle real-life challenges, and make full use of the university’s incubator hub at its Goderich campus. He also announced a combined project launch in September, an Entrepreneurship Week in October, and the International Innovation Sierra Leone event in December.
MMTU Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Philip John Kanu, described the project as a potential game changer for the university and the country. He highlighted five key pillars in the university’s strategic plan that the project aligns with: access and relevance, financial sustainability, quality assurance, applied research, and community service.
“This project will empower students with practical skills, foster creativity, and ensure our graduates are not only employable but capable of creating jobs,” Professor Kanu said. He also expressed gratitude to the EU and other partners for supporting MMTU’s vision.
Ing. Rodney Jenner-Lewis, Acting Dean of the Congo Cross Campus, and Mr. Abdul Bademba Barrie, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Studies, both echoed the project’s role in developing entrepreneurial skills, building strong academic-business linkages, and producing solution-oriented graduates who can respond to industry demands.
The SLEEK project will include curriculum reviews, faculty and stakeholder training, and the development of tools to help beneficiaries collect and analyze data, solve problems, and pitch innovative ideas. It will be structured into work packages focusing on project management, quality assurance, and practical implementation.
Other beneficiaries of the EU Erasmus grant include the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), the University of Makeni, the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH), and Innovation Sierra Leone. The United Methodist Church University is participating as an observer.
