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), will deliver a thought-provoking and inspiring public lecture at the University of Makeni (UniMak) Auditorium, Fatima Campus, on Tuesday, 18th November 2025. The lecture is titled “Feminism in Political Leadership as a Roadmap for Achieving Sustainable Development in Sierra Leone.”
The lecture, organized by the UniMak Students’ Representative Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is part of the university’s prestigious Public Lecture Series. This initiative aims to connect young scholars with thought leaders who are shaping the nation’s development discourse. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s participation in this year’s edition underscores her growing influence as one of Africa’s most dynamic voices on women’s empowerment, leadership, and inclusive governance.
In her anticipated address, the First Lady is expected to highlight the transformative role of feminism in political leadership, emphasizing that gender inclusion is not only a social priority but also an economic necessity for sustainable national growth. Drawing from her experience as a global advocate for women and girls through her Hands Off Our Girls campaign and her leadership within OAFLAD, Dr. Bio will reaffirm that empowering women in politics strengthens democracy, promotes social justice, and drives long-term development outcomes.
Her Excellency’s lecture will also reflect the government’s unwavering commitment to gender equality and human capital development under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio. She will call on students and young leaders to embrace inclusive leadership models that value empathy, service, and shared responsibility. “When women lead, societies thrive. When young people take ownership of their nation’s destiny, progress becomes inevitable,” she is expected to emphasize.
As one of the nation’s most anticipated intellectual engagements of the year, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s lecture promises to ignite meaningful dialogue on the intersection of gender, leadership, and sustainable development. Her message will serve as a call to action for the youth of Sierra Leone to rise as agents of equality, innovation, and national transformation, building a future where every Sierra Leonean, regardless of gender, can contribute to the nation’s collective success.