By: Audrey Raymonda John
At this year’s National youth employment entrepreneurship fair, three young entrepreneurs have received the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) from Sonoco group of companies.
The three entrepreneurs include, MJ corn flour investment, Compact Agro venture and Disability Empire
Agro Venture, which came first, bagged 2,500, Disability Empire, bagged $2500 and MJ Corn flour which came 3rd during the pitchers engagement bagged, $1000.
The business idea pitchers competition was so tough, but the judges did their best to select the best three out of the five contestants.
Addressing the pitchers, the General Manager of Sonoco group of companies Mr Mark Andrew John Pritchard, said in his 30 years in Africa and a career that has taken him to live in multiple countries across the continent and having worked in diverse industries, from multi nationals, to SMEs, to start-ups, he sees himself here in Freetown and his joining the Sonoco Group as the pinnacle of his career.
According to Manager Mark Andrew John Pritchard, him and his Company, Sonoco, are committed to the future of this continent, investing in Africa, creating employment opportunities, encouraging entrepreneurship and helping to drive economic growth.
He informed that Sonoco is an African success story, coming from a very humble beginnings, thanking the the vision and inspiration of one man El Hadj Mamadou Saliou Diallo and their current CEO Abdoul Karim Diallo, the Company has grown into a large conglomerate covering Industry, Construction, Real Estate, Mining and Logistics. From its base in Guinea, he said, Sonoco is now spreading its wings and is investing heavily in Sierra Leone across multiple segments including a close to $50m investment in a major start of the art flour mill to meet the needs of all Sierra Leonians, investments in food product businesses, investments in real estate and investments in their cherished Bread Avenue initiative.
“When I look out at this room today full of representatives from the public sector, from international institutions, from international and local companies and most especially at the participants attending this forum, I see incredible and enormous potential, the success of a Mr Diallo or an Elon Musk or a Mark Zuckerberg can be replicated in this room with, what I would call the right mix of inspiration and perspiration, sheer hard work.
Over my 30 years in Africa, I have always been amazed at the ingenuity, the passion and the potential of young African talent. Talent that is just waiting to be harnessed and that is why events such as this one this week here in Freetown can be an amazing catalyst for growth and opportunity.
Receiving the $ 2500 prize money, Compact Agro venture team lead, Alusine Kargbo thanked Sonoco group of companies for the support given to them.
He promised to utilize the money for the intended purpose. As part of his development drive, he promised to increase their cultivation of corn so as to increase on their production to meet the growing demands.
