President Bio Marks International Women's Day, Reaffirms Gender Equality as a Governance Priority
His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio delivered a national and ECOWAS regional address on International Women’s Day 2026, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to gender equality as a structural governance priority — not a ceremonial acknowledgement.
The address, delivered in his dual capacity as President of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, drew on Sierra Leone’s legislative record under his administration: the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act (30% quota for women in governance), free STEM university tuition for women, targeted scholarships for girls in science disciplines, and the abolition of child marriage.
"Women's leadership is not a concession to be granted, it is a right to be affirmed." President Julius Maada Bio, IWD Address 2026
The President called for structural change in attitudes as well as law, and challenged ECOWAS member states to adopt comparable legislative frameworks during his chairmanship. He was joined in the address by the UN Women Regional Director, who paid a courtesy call on President Bio to reaffirm support for Sierra Leone’s gender reform agenda.
