Post a comment 
First Lady Fatima Bio officially has launched the Women’s Development Organization in Waterloo on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
The launch was organized following a joint invitation from the Waterloo Market Women and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Western Rural District executive.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady described her role as a link between the presidency and local communities. “As First Lady and Mother of the Nation, I recognize that my husband, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, cannot be in every community at once,” she said.
“My role is to complement his efforts by reaching the people directly, listening to their concerns, engaging with them, and relaying their messages firsthand.”
Addressing concerns raised by local traders, she identified the lack of proper market infrastructure as the community’s most urgent challenge. She said that once the land allocated for the market is fully secured, she would return before the end of 2026 to officially launch the construction project.
The First Lady also announced that funds raised through her Hands Off Our Girls campaign would be redirected to the “Table Banking Project.” The initiative is intended to provide working capital to market women to help expand their businesses and support sustainable livelihoods.
During the event, she sensitized attendees on the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, explaining its provisions and stating that the law creates leadership, economic, and social opportunities for women across Sierra Leone.
The launch was presented as part of ongoing efforts to support women’s rights and economic independence at the community level.
