By Thaimu T. Kamara
Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone and President of the organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), joined a distinguished group of global leaders at the Ford Foundation headquarters in New York City for the launch of the inaugural Global First Partners Academy.
Organized by the Global First Ladies Alliance (GFLA) in partnership with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, this groundbreaking initiative brings together First Ladies and First Partners from around the world for a certified executive leadership program focused on public health, gender equity, and sustainable development.
Backed by prominent institutions such as the Ford Foundation, GE HealthCare Foundation, Merck, PepsiCo Foundation, Prosper Africa, and the Rockefeller Foundation, the Academy aims to equip First Ladies with practical tools and global best practices to amplify their impact at home and across the world. Through interactive workshops, expert-led seminars, and peer exchanges, participants are delving into critical issues like maternal and child health, climate resilience, and education equity.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s participation is a strong reaffirmation of her tireless commitment to driving meaningful change in Sierra Leone and beyond. Her recent role in championing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act a historic piece of legislation safeguarding the rights of girls has won her international acclaim and underscores her deep dedication to women’s empowerment, human rights, and inclusive development.
As President of OAFLAD, she has become a leading voice for the transformative role of First Ladies in Africa and has used her platform to push for expanded access to healthcare, justice, and education for women and girls. Her presence at the Academy reflects not only her leadership at home but also her growing influence on the global development stage.
The Global First Partners Academy provides an essential platform for First Ladies to deepen their leadership capacity, forge cross-border partnerships, and explore bold solutions to shared challenges. It is expected that the relationships and insights developed during the Academy will lead to more collaborative, people-centered policy interventions across the participating countries.
As the sessions continue in New York, hopes are high that this new forum will catalyze transformative change anchored by leaders like Dr. Fatima Maada Bio who are not just ceremonial figures, but active change agents shaping the future of their nations.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,11th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
