Strategic Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) Investment Services Limited and the United Tailors Development Association (UTDA) an umbrella group of tailors in the country on Monday ,27th January,2020 turned out a total of twenty three (23) graduants after going through both theoretical and practical entrepreneurship training programme.
The grand certification ceremony took place at the Word of Faith Cinema, Bundu Lane in the east end of Freetown.
The training which was conducted by both SEP Investment Services Ltd and the Institute of Advanced Management and Technology (IAMTECH) is expected to boost the entrepreneurship capacity of participants, improve their productive capacity and increase their understanding of costumer demand and market for their products in Sierra Leone and also help them compete in the international market.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of the SEP Investment Services, Mr. Abubakarr Bangura said that SEP was formed in 2000 and incorporated as a social business in 2019.
The vision of SEP according to the CEO is to promote entrepreneurship as one among the main avenues for empowering the youths.
The entrepreneurship training for members of UTDA according to him was the first since the UTDA was formed. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to management of IAMTECH, the trainers and the three students interns from Delft university for been so helpful in impacting entrepreneurship related skills and knowledge to the beneficiaries.
The three interns students, namely, Laura De Bruine,Saskia Van Hoeven and Nienke Kloosterman noted that their visit to Sierra Leone was to enhance the training, develop a training guide for future trainings by SEP and a business plan for SEP tailoring shop. They expressed their appreciation towards the experiences they have been able to gain while in Sierra Leone largely attributing it to the SEP Investment Services Ltd.
They singled out the SEP team for their invaluable disposition to accommodate them during their stay in the country.
The CEO also used the occasion to express his satisfaction to the executive of UTDA for their invaluable contributions towards the progress of the association.
He officially informed members of the Association that, SEP Investment Services will provide a sound and sustainable micro finance scheme to participants of the training.
The scheme according to him will not only be limited to physical cash but packages such as sewing machines and other logistical and management support. This he noted will serve as start-up kits for the 23 grandaunts. Participants of the training that are currently undergoing apprenticeship in the various tailoring shops who are willing to form a group/company will be encourage and supported to do so.
Mr. Bangura also lamented that SEP Investment Services has provided entrepreneurship training to SNAPME, a photography and social media company owned by 28 Students from Limkokwing University.
Chairman of the UTDA Bishop Sulaiman Kargbo expressed great pleasure to be part of the ceremony and bestowed special praises on the CEO Mr. Abubakarr Bangura for creating the enabling environment for the beneficiaries to complete their training.
Bishop Kargbo further noted that, in spite of the numerous challenges the grandaunts faced during the program, they were still committed in pursuing their various courses.
Representative from various groups including Bai Bureh Fashion Tailoring Limited, Tamaraneh Company and Fashion Designing Company made presentations on how they intend to put together short and long term plans from the experiences gained in the training.
The SEP Financial Consultant and lecturer from IAMTECH, Mr. Sesay spoke on the importance of the training to the beneficiaries.
The climax of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries.
*Sponsorship*
The training and micro finance scheme for members of the UTDA is made possible through investment from Sierra Leone youth Initiative, The Municipality of Tilburg and Wilde Ganzen, the Netherlands.