Post a comment 
President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio has officially launched the 2025–2027 Campaign of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), with the theme “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict.” The landmark event took place at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, bringing together First Ladies from across Africa, development partners, senior government officials, traditional leaders, and members of the diplomatic community.
The launch coincided with the seventh anniversary of the “Hands Off Our Girls” Campaign, the flagship initiative of Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, who also serves as President of OAFLAD. The moment is part of Sierra Leone’s leadership in advancing the protection, empowerment, and resilience of women and girls on the continent.
First Ladies from Liberia, Burundi, Senegal, Cape Verde, and Gabon attended the ceremony, reaffirming their collective commitment to women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. During the ceremony, the First Ladies expressed deep appreciation for Sierra Leone’s warm hospitality and commended Fatima Bio for her exceptional leadership. They described the choice of Freetown as the launch site as a bold and transformative step for Africa and called for increased investment in the safety, health, education, and empowerment of women and girls amid the intersecting challenges of climate change and conflict.
Delivering the purpose of the gathering, Nardos Berhanu, Executive Secretary of OAFLAD, described the campaign as a clarion call for sustainable peace and inclusive development that leaves no one behind. She outlined the campaign’s four core pillars—education, health, women’s empowerment, and the prevention of gender-based violence and emphasised their critical role in safeguarding girls’ education, strengthening community resilience, and upholding the dignity and well-being of African women and girls.
In her remarks, First Lady Bio warmly welcomed her colleague First Ladies and thanked them for answering her call to action. She stressed that while the campaign is being launched in Sierra Leone, its scope is continental and its impact long-term. She called for the creation of systems that are accessible, just, and protective, ensuring that every girl feels safe, valued, and hopeful about her future.
Madam Fatima Bio expressed profound gratitude to her husband, President Bio for his unwavering support and leadership in championing women’s empowerment at the highest levels of governance. She also thanked Paramount Chiefs, religious leaders, teachers, the Judiciary, and the security sector for their steadfast partnership over the past seven years in advancing the Hands Off Our Girls movement.
Reaffirming her commitment, she pledged to continue protecting girls’ rights and expanding opportunities for women and girls across Sierra Leone.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Justice Komba Kamanda, and the Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs, PC Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku Sonsiama III, both of whom applauded the First Lady’s impactful advocacy and pledged continued collaboration to protect women and girls while strengthening community resilience.
In his keynote address, President Bio expressed pride in the launch of the OAFLAD campaign and reaffirmed his commitment as a dedicated HeForShe Champion. He stressed that empowering women is fundamental to building resilience, particularly in the face of climate change and conflict. The President noted that the campaign’s four pillars align closely with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan, especially in areas of climate resilience, human capital development, and inclusive governance.
President Bio highlighted that women constitute more than half of Sierra Leone’s population and stressed that true resilience cannot be achieved without their full participation. He called on governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate with OAFLAD in building strong national coalitions, developing fundable project pipelines, strengthening community-based systems, and ensuring clear accountability frameworks.
He concluded by formally declaring the OAFLAD 2025–2027 Campaign launched, urging all stakeholders to ensure it becomes a catalyst for measurable and lasting transformation. The event closed with a renewed sense of unity and purpose, marking the beginning of a continental movement dedicated to ensuring that every woman is protected, every girl can dream boldly, and every community across Africa is resilient in the face of climate change and conflict.
