President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has been honoured with two prestigious African continental awards in recognition of his transformative leadership in advancing gender equality, girl child education and human capital development in Sierra Leone.
The African HeForShe Champion of the Year—2024 and the Presidential African Intelligence Award—2024 were presented to President Bio on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at State House in Freetown. The awards were conferred by Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi and founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation, alongside Princess Dr. Ocansey, founder of the Nakotech Centre for Excellence.
The HeForShe Movement, initiated by UN Women in 2014, is a global solidarity campaign that actively engages men and boys as key advocates in the pursuit of gender equality. The African HeForShe Champion Award is bestowed upon African leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing women’s rights, increasing female participation in governance and fostering policies that promote gender equity across all sectors.
Under President Bio’s leadership, Sierra Leone has made significant strides in reducing gender disparities. Landmark legislation such as the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act has paved the way for increased female representation in political and economic spheres. Additionally, initiatives focused on education, healthcare and financial inclusion for women underscore the Government’s commitment to fostering a just and equitable society.
A Global Champion for Transforming Education, President Bio has been instrumental in reforming the education sector and promoting gender equality since assuming office in 2018. His administration has increased school enrolment by over one million additional learners and revamped curricula to incorporate critical thinking, comprehension, computational thinking, creativity, and civic education.
Furthermore, President Bio has prioritized STEM education for girls, ensuring tuition-free education from primary school through university for female students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Government’s Radical Inclusion Policy has also enabled pregnant girls to return to school without discrimination, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to inclusive education.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to achieving gender equality. “As I receive this award, I want to reiterate my unwavering support for the HeForShe movement and human capital development. I will continue to advocate for policies that uplift and empower women because when women succeed, nations thrive,” he stated.
The ceremony also featured discussions on the role of African leaders in dismantling barriers to gender equality and fostering inclusive governance structures. Dr. Joyce Banda and Princess Dr. Ocansey took the opportunity to highlight efforts in promoting legal migration, addressing the plight of African migrants in the Middle East and supporting the US$100 million Transfer2Transform initiative, which provides African students with scholarships to study STEM courses in universities across the United States.
The event was graced by high-level dignitaries, including the Vice President, First Lady, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, and Government Ministers, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and other distinguished Government officials.
