Strengthening Entrepreneurship: SLEDP Leads Sierra Leone BDS Providers on Knowledge Exchange Visit to Nigeria
In an effort to bolster the capacity of emerging Business Development Service (BDS) Providers in Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), in partnership with the Sierra Leone Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA), organized an exchange visit for seven emerging Business Development Service (BDS) providers to Nigeria from 2nd to 12th October, 2024. This initiative was aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship support structures through exposure to best practices in business incubation and development.
The Sierra Leone Delegation
The program, facilitated by Nigeria’s Co-Creation Hub (CCHub), offered participants from Creative Hub Africa (CHA), E-women, Life by Design, Work Ready Africa, Africa Institute for Development and Equity (AID-SL), Bo Innovation Hub, and Skool Grind an immersive experience. The delegation engaged with leading Nigerian entrepreneurship institutions, including Lagos Innovates, the National Development Bank of Nigeria, Vibranium Valley, and Techpoint Africa / Tech Cabal, to gain insights into effective BDS practices and strategies for fostering innovation in the private sector.
Sierra Leone BDS Providers at CCHub in Lagos.
During their time at CCHub and other institutions, the Sierra Leone delegation explored tech-focused initiatives, funding mechanisms for SMEs, and the impact of tech journalism on the startup ecosystem. Sessions on Nigeria’s startup policies and an interactive workshop led by CCHub provided first-hand exposure to Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The exchange visit promoted knowledge sharing, network-building, and resource exchange, empowering the Sierra Leonean BDS Providers to drive innovation and foster economic diversification in Sierra Leone.
Funded by the World Bank through SLEDP, this initiative is poised to strengthen local entrepreneurship, support the growth of SMEs across various sectors in Sierra Leone and nurture youth-driven business development.
