The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio has on International Women’s re-echoed and celebrate the women’s empowerment credentials of President Bio in her home District, Kono.
The event organised by a national non-governmental organisation called Women in Development – Sierra Leone (WIND-SL) was a strategic and beautiful peaceful protest march laced with pomp, pageantry and traditional displays in commemoration of International Women’s Day.
The First Lady led a three-miles procession of women, girls and stakeholders from various works of life through various major streets including Kainkordu Road, Hospital Road onto the Koidu Community Field.
The procession served as a platform to raise awareness and protest against various biases affecting women and girls.
Fatima Bio was later crowned by the people of Kono as the Champion for Sustainable Women’s Empowerment.
In welcoming the First Lady, the Mayor of Koidu City described the occasion as historic, pointing out that it was Kono is blessed to have produced yet another First Lady.
“It is also a blessing for us to have a First Lady who is the first to celebrate International Women’s Day with her people,” he pointed out, while calling on all stakeholders to continue to support the women of Sierra Leone in line with President Bio’s agenda.
Chairperson of the program, Mrs. Sitta Kaikai saluted the First Lady for joining her people in a procession that spanned over three miles under the hot burning sun.
She re-echoed the call for gender parity in Sierra Leone.
“If women are empowered the nation will develop,” she asserted.
The Chairman of Council of Paramount Chiefs, PC Tamba E.T Foryoh welcomed the first Lady with pride and pledged their support towards women’s empowerment.
He noted that women can do better when given positions of trust.
The Chairlady of the Wives of Paramount Chiefs saluted the wife of former president Isata Jabbie Kabbah for honoring the invitation to join her sister the First Lady and all other women to celebrate womanhood.
Delivering her keynote address, First Lady Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio expressed appreciation to her people for such grand welcome, noting how proud she is to be a Kono woman.
She extolled the women’s empowerment credentials of the Maada Bio led Government of Sierra Leone while reading out an endless list of names of women appointed by the President to serve in various leadership capacities as Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Ministers and Deputy Ministers among others.
The First Lady noted that Sierra Leone joined the rest of the world on March 8 to celebrate what she described as the sacrifices, bravery, resilience and milestones of super women.
“The International Women’s Day is also being commemorated annually on this date to raise awareness and intensify protests against all forms of violence and discrimination against women. It is a day set aside to commemorate the social, political, cultural and socioeconomic achievements of women in the world. In summary, it’s a day to remind the world of the special and enviable place of women and to re-echo the need for gender parity,” she explained.
“The bravery and steadfastness of our superwomen continue to inspire generations. And for that we salute them,” she stated.
She added, “It is great that our country Sierra Leone continues to enjoy unity in diversity among the women folks as evident in this gathering comprising of strong women from different political, tribal, religious and regional backgrounds. We only need to do more in the area of women supporting women for a prosperous nation.”
According to her, the global theme for this year’s commemoration: “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” perfectly aligns with His Excellency’s vision and strategic actions geared towards women’s empowerment as contained in the government’s Medium Term National Develoopment Plan and evident in bold steps being taken in that direction.
“My husband, His Excellency, the President believes that Sierra Leone can only achieve the development we all so desire when we recognise women as partners in development, thus the strategic and brave actions towards women’s empowerment since he took up office in 2018, including the appointment of several women in top positions including cabinet”.
She highlighted various strategic and concrete steps being taken by the government to achieve the goal of a world free of violence, discrimination and gender stereotyping.
The First Lady ended her statement with a clarion call for women to speak up and step up. “We will only succeed in breaking the vicious circle of bias against women when we speak with one voice. Women supporting women should be the new mantra,” she ended.