The people of Kono, on December 21st 2022, recognized and celebrated their daughter of the soil, Her Excellency First Lady of Sierra Leone Dr Fatima Maada Bio, with sparkling Awards in recognition of the pride that she has brought to them as a District. They also honoured her husband, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio with Appreciation Honours in the form of a huge framed Certificate that was signed by all Paramount Chiefs of Kono District.
A total of three Awards; all of them set in sparkling crystal clear glass intertwined with colourful embossed glass, were presented to First Lady Maada Bio by an enthusiastic gathering of the “Kono Conference” that evening.
The Citation was read out after a video documentary was played at the event. Both the Citation and the Video paid Tribute to H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s contribution to the nation especially in championing women and girls’ rights. The Citation highlighted her unprecedented work in the position of First Lady which surpassed all her predecessors.
The Chairperson of the Kono Conference Madam Sitta Kaikai, a retired United Nations diplomat, said Kono as a district, is really proud and thrilled to have generated such a Role model for women and girls not only in Sierra Leone but also around the world. She said in recognition of that pride in their bosoms, the Kono people want to celebrate the First Lady with the awards.
Receiving the Awards, First Lady Fatima Jabbie Maada Bio thanked her people of Kono for organizing such a wonderful occasion whilst heartily accepting the awards.
The First Lady went on to thank her husband His Excellency President Bio for the Free Quality Education program which she said is already improving education in the country and with a special focus on educating more girls.
“When I was a young girl attending school here in Kono, I had to go to school every day and work extra hard for me to be among the top 3; because at that time only those in the top 3 were going to be awarded a scholarship. But today, every child under the leadership of President Bio is now going to school with no tuition fee, so I want to say thank you, Mr. President,” the First Lady said.
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio said that she accepts that she has made Kono people to be proud of her and she wanted Kono District to know that they have also made her very proud by how they have publicly acknowledged her contributions to nation-building and global advocacy.
“Thank you to my people for making me very proud,” First Lady Maada Bio stated with visible emotions on her face.
The event, held during the 3-Days Kono Conference, was hosted at the Thomas Saquee Complex at Koakoyima and it ended on a very uplifting and jubilant note.
Strategic Communications Division,
Office of the First Lady of Sierra Leone.
info@officeofthefirstlady.gov.sl