AYV News March 15, 2023
His Excellency the President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has said the future of Sierra Leone is in the hands of women.
President Bio was addressing women and girls who converged at State House to celebrate his gender reforms.
The groups of women led by Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio had converged at State House after a grand procession from Up Gun Turntable in the east of Freetown through major streets with singing, drumming and dancing.
The event was staged to appreciate His Excellency the President for embarking on strategic reforms towards women’s empowerment, including the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and the Free Quality Education.
This was part of activities to commemorate International Women’s Day.
President Bio, in his address, assured the Nation that he will continue to invest in women and education as a strategy to build a resilient and prosperous Sierra Leone.
“With these deliberate actions of my government towards women’s empowerment, let me assure you today that one day soon a woman would be elected as President of Sierra Leone,” the President affirmed.
According to His Excellency the President, he is preparing a generation or strong and educated women for a prosperous Nation.
He used the forum as an opportunity to highlight various strategic reforms of his government towards women’s empowerment including the free quality education, review of sexual offenses law, establishment of a special model court to prosecute rape cases, enactment of the gender and women’s empowerment law, all under a period of five years.
He expressed appreciation to the school girls for vindicating his investment in education by leading in most public exams and for the mass enrollment in the sciences.
“I am proud of you all and I will continue to invest in the women and girls of this great country,” the President assured.
“For me, seeking the welfare of women of this country is a sacred duty and honour and I am happy to serve,” President Bio ended his inspiring address amid thunderous rounds of applauds from the women that had gathered to appreciate him.
A representative from the All Political Parties Women Association (APPWA), Augusta Keili expressed appreciation to President Maada Bio for the numerous gender reforms, which according to her has left the women from all political parties with no option other than to support the President.
Matron Mary Fullah thanked the President for supporting the Nurses with pin codes than any other profession.
She further saluted the First Lady for all her interventions in protecting the girl child and associating with the women of this country at every opportunity.
Similar statements were made by civil society and parliamentary representatives among other speakers.
Various leading musical acts graced the stage and mesmerised the gathering with amazing performances.
