Limkokwing launches innovation and incubation resource hub

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Dignitaries at the launch of the innovation and incubation resource hub

By Alhaji Haruna Sani

The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) has launched its maiden innovative and incubation resource hub.

The launching event was organized on the University campus on Monday, February 13th, 2023.

The Likokwing one stop resource innovative hub is set to create access to finance for upcoming innovators, studios and labs for software and hardware, lab training, digital multimedia production, content library and data bank, design and photography studio and music sound production for commercials among several others.

In his statement, Dato Raja Aznil Bin RajaHisha, Chancellor Likokwing University Malaysia said in today’s world education is not just about getting the right qualifications, it is also necessary to develop talents and the full potential of an individual.

He said having a next generation with the ability to create and originate will enable Sierra Leone’s youth to utilize new opportunities offered by globalization

“At the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that our students are given every opportunity to get the best academic qualifications as well as a variety of activities that will develop their talents through industry-related projects that will build confidence,” he mentioned.

Hisham went on to state that the establishment of the Innovation Hub is definitely the right move, adding that they are honored to be selected as one of the universities for the initial cohort by the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP) and SME implementing Agency (SMEDA).

He maintained that LUCT Innovation Hub is truly grateful for the support from SLEDP, SMEDA, the World Bank and CTI Consulting Limited in making Limkokwing Entrepreneur Accelerator Platform (LEAP) business incubator space as the ideal capacity-building support to the existing culture of entrepreneurship among young people of Freetown particularly and Sierra Leone in general.

Modupe Taylor-Pierce Partner CTI and CEO of BCA Leadership said it is time to change the narrative on university graduates seeking for jobs, he said graduates should now be trained to become content creators and employers through problem solving.

“We are not only training students to become job creators but we are also announcing to the investors and industries here are the people that you are looking for, those people who can solve the problem that they have,” he stated

He maintained that investors and industries have problem of finding solutions to their problems, adding that those innovative minds have the abilities to solve problems. “I believe that years from now, we look back at this incubation as a turning point in the development of Sierra Leone where we move from the country that always ask foreigners to come solve our problems,” he stated

Bashir Mohamed Idriss, Coordinator Innovative Hub said the innovative hub is there to provide support for students in order for them to start up their businesses before the graduate and to also create co-working spaces where they can collaborate their ideas and get access for mentorship support from their lecturers and experts.

Idriss went on to state that the innovative hub would be patterning with industries to support the entrepreneur in various areas including finance. He said Sierra Leone has a unique problem when it comes to entrepreneurship, product development among others.

“We are essentially looking at supporting the entrepreneurs to build their products from scratch to finish. The innovation hub tea will help the to know exactly how to forge ahead with their plans,” he stated.

Other speakers included Melvin H. Foray, Enterprise Development, Planning and Research Manager at the Sierra Leone Small and medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA) and Hon. Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh who all express glad over the new development.

At the end of the event, entrepreneurs and innovative students of Likokwing display and explained some of their creative solving businesses to audience.

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