Bintumani Conference Center, Freetown, Friday 12 December 2025 – His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, has officially launched, in Sierra Leone, the 2025–2027 Campaign of the Organization of African First Ladies For Development (OAFLAD) titled “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict” at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Bintumani.
The event brought together First Ladies from across Africa, development partners, senior government officials, traditional leaders, and members of the diplomatic community for what is recognized as one of the continent’s most significant initiatives centred on women’s resilience.
The launch coincided with the seventh anniversary of the “Hands Off Our Girls” Campaign, the flagship initiative of Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, who also serves as President of OAFLAD.
Present were the First Ladies of Liberia, Burundi, Senegal, Cape Verde, and Gabon, who joined their host in reaffirming their collective commitment to promoting women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
They expressed gratitude for Sierra Leone’s warm hospitality and commended Madam Fatima Bio for her exceptional leadership, noting that the introduction of the campaign in Freetown marks a bold and transformative step for Africa. They called for greater investment in strengthening the safety, health, education, and empowerment of women and girls as the continent confronts the overlapping challenges of climate change and conflict.
The Executive Secretary of OAFLAD, Dr. Nardos Berhanu, delivered the purpose of the gathering, describing the campaign as a call to sustainable peace and inclusive development that ensures no one is left behind.
She highlighted the campaign’s four core pillars, education, health, women’s empowerment, and the prevention of gender-based violence, and emphasized that these areas are essential for safeguarding girls’ education, building resilient communities, and upholding the dignity and well-being of African women and girls.
In her remarks, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio welcomed her colleague First Ladies and thanked them for responding to her call to action.
She stressed that although the campaign begins in Sierra Leone, its scope and impact are continental, and the work will continue well beyond the launch. She called for the creation of systems that are accessible, just, and protective, ensuring that every girl feels safe and hopeful about her future.
The First Lady expressed deep gratitude to President Bio for his unwavering support and for championing women’s empowerment at the highest levels of governance. She also thanked Paramount Chiefs, religious leaders, teachers, the judiciary, and the security sector for standing with her over the past seven years in advancing the Hands Off Our Girls movement.
She reaffirmed her commitment to protecting girls’ rights and expanding opportunities across Sierra Leone.
The Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, JSC, and the Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs, PC Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku Sonsiama III, delivered goodwill messages applauding the First Lady’s impactful advocacy and pledging unwavering collaboration to protect women and girls while promoting community resilience.
In his keynote address, President Julius Maada Bio expressed pride in the launch of the OAFLAD campaign and reaffirmed his commitment as a dedicated HeForShe Champion.
He reiterated his belief that empowering women is fundamental to building resilience, particularly in the face of climate change and conflict.
President Bio emphasized that the campaign’s four pillars align directly with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan, especially in climate resilience, human capital development, and inclusive governance. He noted that resilience cannot be achieved without the full participation of women, who represent more than half of Sierra Leone’s population.
He called on governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to work with OAFLAD to develop coherent national coalitions, fundable project pipelines, strong community-based systems, and clear accountability frameworks.
He urged that this campaign must become a catalyst for measurable and lasting transformation, stressing that Africa’s future depends on the strength and inclusion of its women and girls.
President Bio concluded by formally declaring the OAFLAD 2025–2027 Campaign launched. The event closed with a renewed sense of unity and purpose, marking the beginning of a continental movement committed to ensuring that every woman is protected, every girl can dream boldly, and every community across Africa is resilient in the face of climate change and conflict.
