The 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone is commemorating 25 years of championing women’s political participation, leadership development and gender equality, marking a significant milestone in its longstanding campaign to ensure greater representation of women in national decision-making.
According to the organization’s Founder and Global President, Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker, the silver jubilee celebration, under the theme “Still I Rise,” provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements, acknowledge persistent challenges and strengthen efforts towards equal representation of women and men in governance.
The anniversary activities will include the 14th Rajiv Bendre Women in Public Life Lecture, the launch of accredited leadership courses in partnership with the University of Sierra Leone and a grand Awujoh celebration.
Reflecting on the organization’s establishment, Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker recalled that the movement was officially launched on 30 November 2001 during Sierra Leone’s first women’s mock parliament, held inside the House of Parliament.
The historic occasion featured a female Head of State and a mock State Opening of Parliament, demonstrating women’s determination to challenge their exclusion from political leadership.
At the time, women occupied only eight percent of parliamentary seats despite constituting approximately half of the country’s population.
The Group was formally launched by the late President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, with the late Emeritus Professor Eldred Durosimi Jones delivering the keynote address.
Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker explained that the movement emerged following leadership training conducted in 2000 by British gender and politics expert Lesley Abdela, whose work inspired Sierra Leonean women to organize and advocate for political equality.
“At the end of her training, I dreamed of a future in which Sierra Leonean women had a strong voice in leadership. That dream inspired us to start the 50/50 Group,” she recalled.
She highlighted the progress made over the years, particularly the increase in women’s parliamentary representation to more than 30 percent.
The Founder also acknowledged the passage of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022, which established a minimum 30 percent quota, describing it as an important achievement secured through collective advocacy.
However, she stressed that legislation alone cannot guarantee meaningful equality.
“But a law on paper is not enough. We must keep pressing until it is fully implemented, while continuing to aim for 50 per cent representation,” she emphasized.
Over the past 25 years, the organisation has trained more than 3,000 women, established branches across Sierra Leone’s 16 districts and supported female candidates through leadership training, civic education and electoral preparation.
Its advocacy has contributed to the establishment of the Council of Women Councillors and the first all-female parliamentary caucus, strengthening cooperation among women across political divisions.
The Group has also promoted women’s economic empowerment, land rights, peacebuilding and access to justice, while translating important gender-related legislation into local languages to improve public understanding.
In 2007, the organisation received the Madeleine K. Albright Grant from the National Democratic Institute in recognition of its contribution to women’s political advancement.
Another notable milestone came in 2018, when then President Ernest Bai Koroma officially opened the organization’s permanent headquarters at Tower Hill, Freetown.
The Group’s current President, Professor Fredline M’Cormack-Hale, described the anniversary as an opportunity to strengthen the movement for future generations.
“Twenty-five years is a milestone, not a finish line. We honour those who built this movement and we pass the torch to the next generation of young women and girls,” she stated.
She further emphasized the need to hold political parties and public institutions accountable for commitments made towards women’s representation.
A major highlight of the anniversary will be the 14th Rajiv Bendre Women in Public Life Lecture, scheduled for Friday, 20 November 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Freetown City Council Auditorium.
Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan, the first Vice Chancellor of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Sierra Leone, will deliver the keynote lecture entitled “In Praise of the Accidental.”
Her distinguished academic career, spanning more than four decades, includes teaching at The Ohio State University and Harvard University, alongside leadership positions within Sierra Leone’s higher education sector.
The event will also witness the formal launch of accredited courses at the Group’s Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership Training Institute.
Professor Aisha Fofana Ibrahim, who facilitated the agreement with the University of Sierra Leone, said the initiative would equip women with recognised qualifications, practical knowledge and confidence to pursue leadership opportunities.
The anniversary celebrations, coordinated by Dr. Fatou Taqi, will begin with a media launch on 16 November and conclude on 30 November with community outreach activities and a traditional Awujoh at the organization’s headquarters, 50 OAU Drive, Tower Hill.
As the 50/50 Group celebrates its silver jubilee, Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker has reaffirmed its ultimate ambition of achieving equal political representation and witnessing the election of Sierra Leone’s first female President.
The organization’s enduring message remains: “More Women, Better Politics. Still I Rise.”
