By Amin Kef Sesay
The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, has continued to break barriers of social and economic class, when it comes to touching and changing lives of citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, religious beliefs, tribes/ethnicities, regions, or economic status.
However, her move on Saturday, 31st October, 2020, to visit the participants of the ongoing African Young Voices’ (AYV) and Africell Housemates Salone Season 2 program was definitely a game changer and one which broke barriers and bridged gaps.
It could be recalled that before First Lady Fatima Maada Bio came to office in 2018, there were huge gaps between the Office of the First Lady and the lower class of Sierra Leoneans.
People, who were less privileged and considered poor, never had the opportunity to access, mingle, and talk to First Ladies who had come before First Fatima Maada Bio.
Contrarily, things changed dramatically after the 2018 general elections. The ‘Hands off our Girls’ campaign, which has received massive commendations from people within and outside Sierra Leone, has made the First Lady to meet, mingle and discuss with many people irrespective of their social class, political beliefs, regions, origin or religions.
Previously in Sierra Leone, ill-motivated people used to rape and commit sexual and domestic violence offences against women unabated and without remorse.
But today, many young men in Sierra Leone are afraid to even call and converse with underage girls in their various communities. This is due to the First Lady’s robust approach in ensuring that the society is safe for girls to live and achieve their dreams.
The First Lady’s ‘Food Basket’ program was another initiative that was acclaimed by many Sierra Leoneans.
During this program, many tons of rice and other assorted food items were distributed to people in all the regions of Sierra Leone without taking into consideration political or ethnic divides. People living in poverty-stricken conditions were prioritized during the implementation of the ‘Food Basket’ program.
Another important initiative of Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, which has gained the admiration of many Sierra Leoneans, is the introduction and implementation of the ‘Free Sanitary Pads for Girls’.
In the First Lady’s bid to boost hygiene of girls in schools, many schoolgirls in the country are now being given free sanitary pads.
The First Lady’s initiated programs – the ‘Hands off our Girls’ campaign, ‘Food basket’, ‘Free Sanitary Pads’, including the call on parents to send their girls to school have all been highly acclaimed by Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad.
During the visit of the First Lady to the Housemates on AYV/Africell’s Housemates Salone 2 Reality TV show on Saturday night, viewers have openly confessed that they were mesmerized by the First Lady’s move to meet with the contestants. How awesome it was to watch!
She candidly spoke with the contestants, shook hands, hugged them and even went the extra mile to dance with them after having dinner with them.
If H.E Fatima Maada Bio could shake hands, speak, eat and dance with the contestants, it goes to show how down-to-earth our First Lady Fatima Bio is.
Kudos to you H.E Fatima Maada Bio for touching the lives of all Sierra Leoneans, irrespective of their political and religious beliefs, tribes/ethnicities, regions of origin and economic status.
