Women from the 14 chiefdom of Kono district have declared their support and celebrated First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio for successfully championing the Hands Off Our Girls campaign which seeks to protect and prevent women and girls across the country from sexual and other abuses.

The development happened during a meeting that was held at the residence of the First Lady in Koidu city Kono district.

Addressing the women, Her Excellency, the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio expressed thanks and appreciation to her sister Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden for serving as the link to bring the women together.

She added that the meeting is to firstly ask that the women take her as their daughter and secondly, to introduce herself to them as the first lady and daughter of the soil.

She used the opportunity to introduce her husband, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to them as the father of the nation and also asked that they accept him as their in-law.

Speaking on behalf of the women, head of the Kono Sowie Women and head of the delegation, Madam Dopojoe Fanta Filie expressed her thanks and appreciation to the first lady for inviting them to such a meeting.

She admitted that this is the first meeting they are holding meeting with the first lady, adding that they are grateful.

“We have been neglected for long, no support, no initiation, no source of income, we pray that you use your good office to advocate for us” she said, adding that they are in love with the first lady and will always support her in whatever she is undertaking.

In her brief statement, women’s advocate Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden admitted that she has known the Soweis since her days as Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs.

She revealed that she is doing all this in support of her younger sister, the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, while calling on the women to continue holding the rope of peace and unity.