AYV News, August 12, 2024
Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, has called for Pan-African on Gender Equality and Youth Empowerment.
She made the call during the launch of the WeAreEqual Campaign in Angola, where she addressed a distinguished audience that included African first ladies, government officials and civil society leaders.
Her speech, themed: ‘Education for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Child and Youth Violence’, underscored the critical need for African nations to confront gender-based violence and advance gender equality with unwavering commitment.
Dr. Bio began by acknowledging the hospitality of Angola’s First Lady, Mrs. Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, emphasizing the significance of collective African leadership in addressing the challenges facing girls and young women across the continent.
She highlighted the demographic reality that by 2050, Africa will have the world’s youngest and largest workforce, with the majority being girls and young women. This, she asserted, presents both a challenge and an unparalleled opportunity for Africa’s future.
Dr. Fatima Bio said: “The future of African girls and women is in our hands,” urging African leaders to take decisive action and further called for comprehensive efforts to promote human capital development, strengthen gender equality laws and dismantle cultural and structural barriers that hinder the progress of women and girls.
She stressed that these are not optional actions but essential pillars for national progress and human rights, whiles highlighting the importance of sexual and reproductive health rights as integral to achieving gender equality.
She called for bold, holistic approaches to ensure that African women have absolute control over their bodies, free from societal and cultural limitations. “Our bodies should no longer be defined, limited, and violated just because men or society can,” she asserted, challenging discriminatory norms and advocating for legislative reforms across the continent.
Furthermore, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio emphasised the role of education in empowering girls and young women, advocating for increased access to STEM fields and high-quality education. She also called for stronger public awareness campaigns to inform women and girls about available resources and services, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
Dr. Bio concluded her speech with a powerful appeal for unity and collective action among African leaders. “Together, we can change the future of hundreds of millions of girls on our continent. It is Africans who will have to change our own destiny,” she stated, reaffirming her commitment to working alongside her fellow first ladies to create a brighter future for Africa.
Her speech at the WeAreEqual Campaign launch not only reinforced the importance of gender equality and youth empowerment in Africa but also set a clear agenda for the continent’s leaders to follow. Her words serve as a rallying cry for Africa to take charge of its future by empowering its women and youth, ensuring that they contribute fully to the continent’s development and prosperity.
