Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone and President of the Organization of the African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), has become one of Africa’s most passionate voices for women’s rights and child protection.

Since becoming First Lady in 2018, alongside her husband, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, she has used her voice and platform to highlight critical issues affecting women and girls across Sierra Leone and the African continent.

Born on November 27, 1980, in Koidu Town, Kono District, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s life story is one of perseverance and vision. She began her education at Ansarul Islamic School and St. Joseph’s Convent Secondary School in Freetown, where her love for learning and community service first took shape. Her quest for knowledge led her to the United Kingdom, where she earned degrees in Performing Arts and Journalism.

Before stepping into public life, she built a successful career in the entertainment industry as an actress, screenwriter, and film producer, winning the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 2011 ZAFAA Global Awards. Her creative background gave her a unique voice, one that blends empathy and passion for social impact qualities that now define her public advocacy on issues that truly matter.

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At the heart of Her Excellency’s mission is her flagship initiative, “Hands Off Our Girls”, a bold national campaign launched to fight child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence. The campaign has received international acclaim for sparking much-needed conversations about the rights and dignity of young girls.

When Dr. Fatima Maada Bio became First Lady, she turned her attention to one of Sierra Leone’s most pressing challenges, the protection of young girls. In response, she launched the “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, a bold nationwide initiative to end child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence.

The campaign has done more than raise awareness; it has sparked a movement. Across Sierra Leone, communities are talking openly about the rights of girls, and traditional leaders are joining efforts to end harmful practices. Through this initiative, she has inspired a cultural shift, urging parents, communities, and institutions to take responsibility for protecting girls from abuse and exploitation.

Her tireless advocacy also played a key role in the passing of Sierra Leone’s landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, which mandates that 30% of all public and private sector leadership positions be held by women. The law also guarantees 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, marking a significant step forward in the nation’s pursuit of gender equity.

Her Excellency’s commitment to women and children extends beyond Sierra Leone’s borders. She currently serves as President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), where she works with fellow African First Ladies to promote better health care, education, and empowerment for women and children across the continent.

Her leadership within OAFLAD underscores a powerful message that empowering women is not just a moral duty, but a driving force for sustainable development and social progress. In this role, she continues to remind leaders that empowering women is not only a social responsibility, but also essential to Africa’s progress.

Her Excellency, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s story has become an inspiration for countless women and girls. From her early years in Kono to her leadership on the global stage, she has shown that determination, compassion, and education can change lives.

From her early days in Nollywood to her current role as a global advocate, her journey proves that leadership rooted in empathy can change lives and reshape societies. And her message is clear: when women are given equal chances, families and communities thrive.

Today, the First Lady continues to inspire women, mothers, and young girls across Sierra Leone and Africa. Through her work, she is helping to build a future where every girl can grow up safe, educated, and free to reach her full potential.

She is not just the First Lady of Sierra Leone she is a global champion for women and children, and a reminder that when women lead, society grows stronger.