“Investing in Girls’ Education is a Smart long-term Investment For our nation,” Sierra Leone’s President Dr Julius Maada Bio stated during a Lecture at his Alma Mater American University’s School of Public Service in the United States.

President Bio said his government has been able to achieve a lot by taking that venture. He said there have been 33% drop in teenage pregnancy and a 37% increase in girl-child education.

He added that the rate at which early child marriage occurred have also reduced drastically in Sierra Leone since 2018.

He mentioned how his government takes girls’ education seriously. He said they have worked to ensure gender parity in schools, with girls having higher retention and attachment in all national transition exams and as a result Sierra Leone can now boast of having the highest percentage of girls completing primary school education in the whole of West Africa.

Bio furthered that more girls are now studying STEAM disciplines, adding that they have “higher” transition rates into tertiary and vocational institutions. He noted that they have introduced free education for all girls studying STEAM disciplines.

Bio also spoke of  his achievements as President, citing the Progressive Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act which ensures equal pay for women and the ability to amplify their voices in all societal domains, from the workplace to the political arena. He said a minimum of 30 percent of the representation of women is guaranteed by law.

On commitment to remove the barriers of gender inequality, Bio said his government declared a state of emergency on rape and sexual and gender-based violence and is championing justice for the marginalized and the underprivileged under the Sexual Offences Act. He added that they have established a Legal Aid Board and a Special Court to expedite the adjudication of sexual offences.