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President Julius Maada Bio has been awarded two prestigious African honors for his leadership in gender equality and girl child education.
He received the African HeForShe Champion of the Year 2024 and the Presidential African Intelligence Award 2024 in recognition of his efforts to promote women’s empowerment, increase female participation in governance, and advance education in Sierra Leone.
Reacting to the news, Bio said “I am excited to announce that today I received the African HeForShe Champion of the year award along with Presidential African Intelligence Award for 2024.”
The awards were presented by former Malawian President Dr. Joyce Banda and Princess Dr. Ocansey, founder of the Nakotech Centre for Excellence.
Experts said President Bio solidified his effort in women’s empowerment when his government passed the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act. He is also regarded for his work in the education sector when he expanded access to education, and ensured tuition-free STEM education for girls when he took power in 2018.
They added that his government’s Radical Inclusion Policy allows pregnant girls to continue their studies without discrimination.
Accepting the awards, President Bio reaffirmed his commitment to gender equality, stating, “When women succeed, nations thrive.”
He dedicated the awards to his late sister and mother as well as his “amazing wife”.
The ceremony also included discussions on African leadership in gender equity and migration, as well as initiatives supporting African students studying STEM in the U.S. The event was attended by government officials, international diplomats, and other high-ranking dignitaries.
