I want to thank organisers of this programme for inviting me again to this eminent college campus for us to launch a programme which aims to empower youths to gain the skills they need to be amongst next generation of Sierra Leone entrepreneurs.

But first, what really is an entrepreneur?

There are various definitions but all agree that an entrepreneur is one who first has a vision to start an innovative business and despite great risks involved, goes on to successfully use initiative to execute that vision into a profitable business that normally will benefit the entrepreneur and community.

These young Sierra Leoneans seated here today hope to be soon joining a long line of eminent trail blazing Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs from the likes of Sir Ernest Morgan who established a small entrepreneurship in Blama Kenema and built it into biggest indigenous pharmaceutical enterprise to likes of Mama Princess Eccles James who established a produce business that spanned from Kailahun and Kono right into Guinea. The list of Sierra Leone entrepreneurs is rich and includes one who sadly we just lost in person of Vincent Kanu, the entrepreneur hotelier who with his execution of his vision of building a high-star hotel in a formerly ‘sleepy’ Makeni, almost singlehandedly converted Makeni into a city capable of hosting international conferences. Right here where we are all seated is another prime example of power of a visionary entrepreneur: Prof. Paul Kamara and his wife, Dr. Paula Kamara, who conceptualised and brought to reality this IAMTECH educational campus where we are all gathered.