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The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, on Friday participated in a high-level networking event focused on youth development and cooperation held at the Country Lodge in Freetown.
The event, themed “Harnessing Youth Potential for National Development through Strategic Partnerships,” brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, and youth leaders to explore strategies for empowering young people to contribute to the country’s growth and transformation.
In her address, Dr. Fatima Bio underscored the importance of youth inclusion and empowerment as essential components of sustainable national development. She linked her advocacy for women and girls’ advancement to the broader national agenda under the government’s Big Five Game Changers, which identifies young people as central to Sierra Leone’s progress.
The First Lady also raised concern over the growing kush drug crisis in the country, describing it as a serious threat to national stability and the well-being of the youth.
She urged government institutions, communities, and development partners to collaborate in tackling the issue through preventive measures, rehabilitation programs, and public awareness campaigns.
The engagement concluded with a renewed call for coordinated efforts among stakeholders to create more opportunities for youth participation, innovation, and leadership in Sierra Leone’s development agenda.
The event reaffirmed the First Lady’s ongoing commitment to promoting youth empowerment, gender equality, and social progress both within Sierra Leone and across the African continent.
