At CGI, Fatima Bio Makes Strong Call for Africa’s Place in Digital Future
Sia Lucy Kannah Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, has called for stronger global action to protect children online while ensuring that African countries play a greater role in shaping the world’s digital future.
Dr. Fatima Bio made the call while addressing global leaders, policymakers and innovators at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, where she highlighted the growing role of technology in education, development and everyday life.
She stressed that protecting children from risks associated with the digital environment should be treated as an urgent global responsibility. At the same time, she cautioned against approaches to digital safety that could deepen existing inequalities or prevent children and young people from accessing the opportunities created by technology.
“Africa must not simply be a consumer of technologies, policies, and ideas developed elsewhere,” Dr. Fatima Bio said, calling for African countries to participate in the planning, innovation, development and decision-making processes shaping the global digital landscape.
The First Lady also highlighted Africa’s growing population of young people and their potential to contribute to technological innovation and problem-solving. She called on international stakeholders to create greater opportunities for African youth to participate in the development of digital solutions, noting that young Africans are already developing solutions with potential for local and wider application.
Dr. Fatima Bio further called for cross-border collaboration involving governments, technology companies, educators, parents, civil society organisations and young innovators to address challenges surrounding children and technology.
She said collaboration should remain central to efforts to create a digital environment that protects children while ensuring that African countries and young people are included in shaping the technologies and policies that will influence their future.
“My message at CGI was simple: Africa must have a seat at the table, our children must be protected, and collaboration must be at the heart of building a safer and more inclusive digital future,” she said.
