The Sowei Society of Kono District (SSKD), has expressed their profound gratitude to the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio for the tremendous work she is doing for both women and girls in the country.

The all-important meeting was held at the First Lady’s home town, Koidu Town, Kono District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

The head of delegation for the Sowei Society, Madam Dopojoe Fanta Fillie during the friendly meeting with the First Lady, expressed utmost gratitude for the massive support she’s offering to women and girls in Kono, and the country at large.

Madam Fillie also assured the First Lady of their enormous support to her, mainly, because of the massive projects she has embarked on since 2018, when she assumed the seat of the “Mother of the Land”.

She added that the group is more than grateful to the First Lady for associating with them, amidst the difficulties they’re going through, at this point in time, as Soweis, and/or practitioners of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the country.

A press statement signed by the Communications Office in the First Lady’s Office, on Saturday, 4th February, 2023, noted that the Soweis in Kono District have assured the First Lady of their support, essentially for championing the “Hands Off Our Girls Project”, and also for her tremendous support to the soweis’ organisation in the country.

In her statement, Fatima Bio expressed her utmost thanks and appreciation to the former Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs – Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, OOR, for serving as the bridge connecting herself and the soweis group.

She called on the Soweis to work hand in hand with her and her elder sister (Dr. Sylvia Blyden) for continued support to them and other Soweis’ groups in the country.

She, importantly, requested the Soweis to accept and/or consider her as a daughter of the soil, hence, they should consider her to be part of them.

The Firstly Lady equally called on the Soweis to support her husband, President Julius Maada Bio, adding that, she wants them to accept him as a “Father” because of the respect they’ve showered on her, stating that, same should be accorded to her lovely husband, who is also their father-in-law.

Dr Blyden acknowledged knowing the Soweis since she was the Minister of Gender and Children Affairs (MGCA), in the Koroma-led administration; the former Gender Minister disclosed further that, all the support she is giving to the women of Kono District is basically to compliment the work of her younger sister, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio.

Dr. Blyden encouraged the Soweis to be law-abiding, adding that her office and that of the First Lady’s are always available/opened to them for assistance, and any other support.

A Representative from the Soweis in Koidu town, who served as the head of the delegation – Madam Dopojoe Fanta Filie, on behalf of the group poured out their utmost gratitude to the First Lady for her strategic projects she had pulled through as a means of supporting women and girls in the country. She expressed thanks and appreciation to the First Lady for calling their attention to hold such a meeting.

She admitted that the conference was the first they have held with her, adding that they love the Dr Fatima Bio and they will always be supportive of her programs.

“We have been neglected for a long, with no support, no initiation, no source of income, we pray that you use your good office to advocate for us,” Mrs Fellie expressed.