First Lady Fatima Bio Defends Free Education, Highlights Government’s Development Agenda
Osman Tolo Sesay First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has defended the government’s Free Quality Education policy, saying it is designed to reduce the financial burden on families and ensure every child in Sierra Leone has access to schooling.
Speaking on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the launch of the Sierra Leone Ocean Shipping Company (SLOSC) at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown, she highlighted government initiatives in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, energy and digital transformation.
She said the Free Quality Education programme and the Radical Inclusion policy aim to expand educational opportunities, particularly for children and groups historically excluded from the education system.
On healthcare, the First Lady cited investments in health facilities, maternal and newborn care, and vaccination programmes, including malaria vaccination and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls.
She also highlighted the Feed Salone initiative, alongside government support for farmers through agricultural machinery, improved seeds and rice milling facilities, as efforts to increase local food production, strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imported food.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio further pointed to road construction, transport links and electricity expansion, describing infrastructure and reliable power as important to connecting communities, supporting trade and improving access to public services.
She commended President Julius Maada Bio for signing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and repealing the seditious libel law. She also described the transition from paper-based processes to digital systems as a step towards modernising public administration.
The First Lady referenced Sierra Leone’s regional and international engagements, including the president’s advocacy for greater African representation in global decision-making and cooperation with partners such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Turning to the maritime sector, she said the industrial fishing port under construction at Black Johnson was expected to create employment and support fisheries development, processing and value addition when completed.