AYV News, June 30, 2025
Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has urged policy reform at Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) 2025, a two-day event scheduled for June 26 and 27.
She further urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and take deliberate steps toward policy development.
Dr. Fatima Bio said, “Let me use this as a call to us all to not let this be just a conference. Let us use this platform to design policies that will make women change-makers in our society”.
She emphasised that empowering women is not an act of kindness but one of justice, saying; “to empower women is not just charity; it is rather justice. Women are agents of transformation. They build up the families, and our families are what build up our society.”
Representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, echoed the First Lady’s sentiments, emphasizing the foundational role of empowered women in creating resilient societies.
He said: “Women create harmonious and resilient communities. We need more women of virtue, purity, and empowerment and this begins with the family. We seek to empower women to be nourished to transform the world and we must empower them spiritually, educationally, emotionally, and in all ramifications.”
His address reflected the Church’s long-standing commitment to family strengthening and spiritual development.
Not agreeing less, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown and President of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL), Reverend Edward Tamba Charles, emphasized the moral and spiritual dimensions of women and child protection.
“Empowerment is not only a social issue but a spiritual responsibility. When we uplift women, we uphold the moral fabric of our communities,” he said.
He further called on religious and traditional leaders to play an active role in cultural transformation stressing that “Religious institutions must champion gender equality and child welfare, not just from the pulpit but through concrete action”.
National Chairman of the National Council of Paramount Chiefs, Hon. Paramount Chief Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku-Sonsiama III, emphasized the critical role of traditional authority in championing women’s rights and community stability and appealed for collaboration between traditional leadership and civil society organizations.
“We, as custodians of culture, must support the empowerment of women at the community level. It is in our homes, towns, and villages that true transformation must begin,” he said.
“When women are given a seat at the table, families thrive, and nations prosper. We must continue to ensure that our traditions evolve with the times to protect and empower,” he added.
Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Kenneth Pambu, Sierra Leone, delivered the opening remarks. He welcomed guests and emphasized the purpose of the conference: to unite faith, tradition, and policy in a shared mission to uplift families through empowered women and protected children.
Stakeholders at the opening of the 7th edition of the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC 2025) issued a strong and unified call for the empowerment of women and the protection of children as essential steps toward building resilient and thriving communities.
According to participants, the urgency of advancing women’s empowerment has never been greater, nor is its impact more critical.
Speaking under the conference theme, “Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection,” the event brought together a diverse coalition of religious leaders, government officials, diplomats, and civil society actors. Together, they called for concrete actions and policy reforms aimed at strengthening families and transforming communities through inclusive, people-centered development.
Among those who gave goodwill messages was Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Bob Sheriff. He described the conference as a timely initiative aligned with regional efforts to promote peace and sustainable development. “Empowered women raise empowered children, and that leads to empowered nations,” he said.
Another goodwill message came from Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Sierra Leon, Amir Musa Mewa. He stressed the importance of universal values in supporting women’s advancement. “Our teachings emphasize compassion, justice, and equity—all of which are essential in empowering women,” he said. “When women are empowered, it is not only homes that flourish, but nations.”
The day also featured a thought-provoking panel discussion with the President of the All-Political Parties Women Association (APPWA), Madam Isatu Jabbie Kabbah, and Area Organizational Advisor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aminata Turay. They explored practical strategies for policy development, grassroots mobilization, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen family systems through female empowerment.
The event concluded with award presentations to individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to women’s empowerment, community service, and child protection. These honors reinforced the conference’s commitment to celebrating and amplifying impactful work in society.
The conference opened with a vibrant exhibition, where numerous partners showcased their works across family support, women’s empowerment, child protection, education, and among others. The exhibition set the tone for a dynamic gathering focused on practical solutions and cross-sector collaboration.
As day one of the SFC 2025 came to a close, the message was clear and consistent across faiths, sectors, and cultures: empowering women is not just a necessity for family strength, it is a non-negotiable for national transformation.
