Freetown, February 22, 2025 – Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has been honored with two prestigious African awards in recognition of his commitment to gender equality, girl child education, and human capital development.
The African HeForShe Champion of the Year 2024 and the Presidential African Intelligence Award 2024 were presented by former Malawian President Dr. Joyce Banda and Princess Dr. Ocansey, founder of the Nakotech Centre for Excellence, during a ceremony at State House in Freetown.
The HeForShe Movement, launched by UN Women in 2014, engages men as advocates for gender equality. The award recognizes President Bio’s efforts in promoting women’s rights, increasing female political participation, and enacting gender equity policies. His leadership has seen the implementation of landmark legislation such as the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, which has expanded opportunities for women in governance and the economy.
Since taking office in 2018, President Bio has also championed educational reforms, increasing school enrollment by over **one million students. His administration has introduced tuition-free education for girls in STEM fields, updated curricula to include critical thinking and civic education, and ensured pregnant girls can return to school without discrimination** under the **Radical Inclusion Policy.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio reaffirmed his dedication to gender equality, stating, “I will continue to advocate for policies that uplift and empower women because when women succeed, nations thrive.”
The ceremony also featured discussions on African leaders’ role in gender equality and governance, as well as initiatives supporting legal migration and African students studying STEM courses in the U.S.
The event was attended by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, First Lady Fatima Bio, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and UN representatives.
