By Sulaiman Jalloh
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Parliamentary Female caucus of Sierra Leone’s Sixth Parliament gathered at the State Hall of Parliament to honor Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio for her election as President of the organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in February 2025 in Ethiopia, the ceremony also recognized her tireless advocacy for girls and women across the nation.
Hon. Mariama Munina Zombo, spokesperson for the caucus, opened the event by hailing Dr. Bio as the mother of the nation; she noted that the First Lady’s two-year OAFLAD presidency offers a platform to champion women’s contributions to development. Zombo praised the gender empowerment and Women’s Employment (GEWE) Act, crediting President Julius Maada Bio’s government and the Fifth Parliament for its passage, today’s politics demands strength, she declared.
Clerk of Parliament Hon. Umar Paran Tarawallie underscored Dr. Bio’s global stature, predicting her new role would amplify her focus on Sierra Leone’s social and economic progress, as well as Africa’s, her path of advocacy and integrity is well-known, and we’re confident she’ll uphold it, he said.
Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, caucus president, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the lawmakers’ pride in Dr. Bio’s achievement, she’s been a steadfast ally to Parliament and our caucus, Songa said, expressing a desire to collaborate with women’s groups nationwide, including market vendors.
Hon. Mathew Nyuma, leader of government business, tied the First Lady’s success to President Bio’s administration, which he described as a champion of women’s and girls’ empowerment, her election surprised few of us, he remarked, citing the government’s track record.
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, president of the ECOWAS Female Caucus, credited Dr. Bio’s advocacy for increasing female representation in Parliament since independence, her support has paved the way, she said.
In her address, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio dubbed the Sixth Parliament a She Parliament, thanking its leadership for backing Sierra Leone’s women. She recounted her OAFLAD election as a vote of trust from fellow first ladies to lead for two years, President Bio knows transformation hinges on empowering women and girls, she said, urging mothers to prioritize education, she added, we must shape our children for the future, Dr. Bio pledged to balance her international duties with Sierra Leoneans’ welfare, noting, Africa feeds Europe, additional speakers, including the Ministers of Gender and Children’s Affairs and Foreign Affairs, and the Women’s Forum president, lauded Dr. Bio and the government for advancing the rights of children, women, and girls. The event drew civil society groups, women’s organizations, and religious and traditional leaders from across the country, reflecting broad support for the First Lady’s work.