Passion Leads a Sudanese Engineer to Entrepreneurship in Education

Moatinoon
Sudanese engineer Fadwa Suleiman Hussein has devoted her time and energy to providing high-quality educational services in her home country, Sudan. Driven by her passion, she has become one of the leading women entrepreneurs in the field of education.

The idea grew out of a challenge faced by working mothers like Fadwa, eventually evolving into the Suleiman Hussein Academy. The academy’s foundation was launched with support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)—specifically its Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Bahrain, in cooperation with the International Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Speaking to UN News, Fadwa said: “UNIDO supported us and provided ideas on how to begin our journey toward building the project.”

The collaboration then materialized into what Fadwa described as a “first step”: integrating children with special needs into the academy—particularly children with autism.

She added, “Representatives from UNIDO’s office used to come to Sudan to organize lectures and seminars for students, helping us plant the seed of entrepreneurship in children from the age of ten.”

In partnership with UNIDO, the academy encouraged children to start small projects—such as printing a book or preparing food products—and to present their projects along with marketing plans within the academy.

“There Are Always Solutions”
Since its establishment in 1994 as a small kindergarten with fewer than ten students, the Suleiman Hussein Academy has grown into a vibrant educational institution serving more than 650 students, from preschool through secondary education. Its philosophy focuses on holistic development and promotes critical thinking, creativity, and leadership.

This effort, led by Fadwa alongside her sister Fadia, resulted in Fadwa being selected among 60 women entrepreneurs from around the world whose experiences were highlighted during UNIDO’s 21st General Conference, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2025.

During our meeting with her at the conference—specifically in front of the display featuring her photograph among the sixty entrepreneurs spotlighted by UNIDO as part of its “ELLEvate” campaign—Fadwa urged women and girls to see her experience as a source of inspiration.

The Sudanese entrepreneur called on women, in particular, to enter the field of early childhood education, noting that many countries lack workplace-supported childcare facilities for employees’ children. She also emphasized the importance of continuous development to keep pace with change.

Drawing on her own experience, Fadwa delivered a message—especially to women:
“Whatever your field of study, if you discover a passion for any profession, pursue it. No matter the challenges, there are always solutions.”