By Aminata Bintu Kallon
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio on Thursday joined the Ministry of Youth Affairs at the Freetown International Conference Centre to launch the Youth Connekt: Mano River Union Youth Forum 2026. The event brought together youth leaders, policymakers, UN representatives, the Mano River Union Secretary General, and government officials to discuss the future of young people across the Mano River Union countries.
In her remarks, the First Lady emphasized that the forum was not only about its official launch but also about the need to give young women fair access to leadership opportunities. She argued that when women lead and are empowered, economies grow and nations progress. “When you educate a man, you educate an individual. When you educate a woman, you educate a nation,” she said.
Fatima Maada Bio highlighted that more than 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s population are young people, many of whom face challenges such as unemployment, conflict, and instability. She noted that young women face even greater barriers, including limited access to education, financial opportunities, and investment in their potential.
She used the occasion to call for stronger inclusion of women in all areas of national life. “We are drivers of development and we require access to networks. Let us join hands to nurture a new generation of women — a generation where women take the mantle of leadership and contribute to nation building,” she said.
In a direct message to young women, the First Lady stressed that they are not leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today. She encouraged them to dream without limits and live beyond expectations. “We stand with you. Your government stands with you. Your First Lady stands with you. Africa stands with you. Let us envision a region where women are architects of development,” she declared.
The launch of the Youth Connekt Mano River Union Youth Forum marked a significant step in regional youth engagement. It set the stage for dialogue and collaboration among young people across Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, with a strong focus on empowering women and building inclusive leadership for the future.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 22nd June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
