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The Organization of African First Ladies for Development has officially launched its 2025–2027 term with the inaugural meeting of its newly elected Steering Committee, reaffirming its commitment to promoting gender equality, health, and sustainable development across African countries.
The President of OAFLAD, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, chaired the event. She posted on her official Facebook page expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in her leadership and assured them her dedication to driving meaningful change for women and children across Africa.
“I thanked them for the trust placed in me to lead OAFLAD for the next two years and congratulated all members on their appointment. I also assured them of my commitment to work together for the benefit of women and children across Africa.” She posted.
The president, vice president Dr. Ana Dias Lourenço of Angola, and regional representatives make up the 10 member steering committee and the committee plays a key role in shaping OAFLAD’s direction between General Assembly sessions. Some of their duties are: endorsing key agendas, supporting the secretariat, ensuring effective coordination among member states, and overseeing execution of collective decisions.
Dr. Bio explained the importance of equitable regional, consensus-building, and linguistic representation, and the active involvement of all First Ladies in order to strengthen OAFLAD’s impact. She suggested that the Steering Committee hold a minimum of four meetings every year to keep momentum and ensure accountability.
First Lady Fatima Bio called for high collaboration and unity in dealing with the most pressing challenges in Africa, through the guidance of a vision centered on fighting the causes of climate change and enhancing peace and security across the continent.
The recent kickoff of the 2025–2027 term for the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) under the leadership of First Lady Fatima Bio marks an important step in promoting critical issues related to gender equality, health, and sustainable development across Africa. The inaugural meeting of the newly elected Steering Committee emphasized collaboration among the member states, focusing on shared goals that will benefit women and children across the continent.
First Lady Bio’s commitment to fostering unity and facilitating discussions on pressing challenges—ranging from climate change to peace and security—is essential for enhancing OAFLAD’s effectiveness and impact. Her call for regular meetings among the Steering Committee members underlines the importance of accountability and continuous momentum in addressing these significant issues.
Furthermore, the leadership structure, which includes representatives from various regions and countries, aims to ensure diverse perspectives and equitable representation. This approach will undoubtedly strengthen the organization’s mission and bolster efforts toward meaningful change across Africa.
As the term progresses, it will be interesting to see the initiatives and projects that emerge from this committed leadership and how they will address the ongoing challenges faced by women and children throughout the continent.