Four Sierra Leone Startups Selected Among 60 Regional Finalists
Four Sierra Leonean startups were selected among 60 businesses from nearly 10,600 regional applications to participate in the second ECOWAS Startup Awards, held from September 28 to 30, 2026.
Facilitated by the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Sierra Leone nominated startups across key priority sectors for the prestigious event. The participating enterprises and their representatives included Freetown Innovation Lab (Mohamed A. Kamara), Eco-Twist Green Generation Initiative (David Kamara), Farmers Pride International (Jehoshaphat S. Konteh), and Jalimi Foods Pikin Pap (Brenda Minratu Peacock-Sawyerr).
Throughout the three-day gathering, founders engaged in competitive business pitches, masterclasses, exhibitions, startup clinics, and investor deal rooms, connecting directly with regional policymakers and private-sector leaders.
The summit culminated in a grand awards ceremony on September 30 at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja. Nigeria’s HubPharm Africa secured the top honor, taking home the grand prize.
While the Sierra Leonean delegates did not take home the final cash prizes, the platform provided high-visibility exposure to showcase their innovations to potential regional partners, mentors, and international investors.
The summit also marked the official launch of the ECOWAS Private Sector Development Academy and the ECOWAS Startup Networks, designed to boost entrepreneurship, knowledge-sharing, and economic integration across West Africa.
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