Sierra Leone: Local Content Agency DG Inspires UNIMAK MBA Students
The Director General of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA), Mr. Fodeba Daboh on Saturday, April 13, 2024, inspired the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) MBA Students at the 7 & 8 Cohort Seminar organized by the Global MBA Impact Entrepreneurship Sierra Leone on the theme: Entrepreneurial Impact on Food Security in Sierra Leone, at the Mama Rugie Memorial Hall, UNIMAK Campus in Makeni.
UNIMAK Stakeholders, MBA students, the Director General of SLLCA, and other government officials attended the 7 & 8 Cohorts Seminar.
Delivering his keynote address, the Director General said that the theme is timely particularly when His Excellency the President, Julius Maada Bio has launched the BIG FIVE CHANGER with key priority on Feed Salone Progromme.
He added that in the face of a growing population and changing climates, food security has become one of the most pressing issues of our time, but there are still opportunities in which entrepreneurs can thrive.
He said according to WFP, over 4.7 million people in Sierra Leone are food insecure, with over 900,000 being severely food insecure and over 3.7 million being moderately food insecure.
“But amidst these daunting figures, there is hope. And that hope stems from President Bio’s Feed Salone Programme coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit that burns in each of you with solutions, and sustainable business models that we can hope to feed Sierra Leone and ensure no one goes to bed hungry,” he said, pointing out that the Feed Salone Strategy is a transformative initiative that promises to revolutionize our agricultural sector, ensuring food security, promoting self-sufficiency, and safeguarding our national sovereignty.
He said that “Today, we see entrepreneurs stepping up to the plate, bringing innovative solutions to the table, and playing crucial roles in improving food security”.
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine conflict have indicated that national sovereignty is vulnerable when it depends on other countries for its staple foods.
He disclosed that President Bio’s clear commitment to food security and inclusive economic growth is for Sierra Leone to be self-sufficient in rice, and to bring the importation of rice to near zero by 2028, stating that a complete replacement of imported rice with the local rice will have huge spillover effects on the country’s economy by bolstering its foreign reserves, strengthening its currency, and increasing its purchasing power.
He said that the government has passed policies to create a market for priority crops, such as local rice, and to encourage backward integration from rice importers.
He said implementing the Feed Salone policies will not only end rice importation in Sierra Leone, but also boost other crop exports, thereby growing the economy, creating jobs, increasing incomes, and combating food insecurity.
DG Daboh said that entrepreneurs, with their innovative ideas and risk-taking propensity, can significantly contribute to improving food security through innovative agricultural practices in implementing Feed Salone.
He said that amidst the challenges of Food Security, the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency has emerged as a beacon of hope despite the challenges along the supply and value chains, noting that the Agency considers the entrepreneurs as the backbone of the agriculture and agribusiness sector, which is the primary source of livelihood for the majority of Sierra Leone’s population.
He assured that the Agency will continue to support local entrepreneurs and Sierra Leonean businesses through its capacity-building programmes aimed at improving product standards and quality, business linkages, value addition, and a lot more to compete efficiently and effectively ahead of the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and strengthening market access.
He said, “As MBA graduands, you are being equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate these challenges. You can devise sustainable business models that not only generate profits but also contribute to food security”, noting that their entrepreneurial ventures should be to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and ultimately, ensure that every Sierra Leonean has access to adequate, nutritious food.
He told the 7 & 8 Cohorts that while the challenges of food security in Sierra Leone are significant, the entrepreneurial spirit provides a beacon of hope through innovation, determination, and a commitment to improving the lives of citizens, noting that entrepreneurship is not just about creating successful businesses; it is about making a difference. And there is no better place to start than ensuring food security in Sierra Leone.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIMAK, Rev. Fr. Prof. J. A. Turay thanked Cohorts, particularly the “E4IMPACT” for building ten years of the entrepreneurial university, noting that indeed Universities are built not just for teaching, research, and public engagement, but the Universities Act 2021 has added entrepreneurial management as a core mandate of universities.
He added the University of Makeni has positioned itself to solve the crucial issues in the country.
By Stephen V. Lansana
15/4/2024