To commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, the Global Foundation for Women and Development on Saturday 11th March 2023 organized an awards night at the Bamoi Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown at which event six eminent and amazing Sierra Leonean women who choose to make a difference in the country were recognized and awarded with medals.
The theme for the event was ‘Embracing Equity.’
Mrs. Valiecia Coker, proprietress of Valiecia Catering Services and Vocational School, Ms. Saffie Kalokoh, a civil servant, Mrs. Marian Vinnie–Wilson, a senior staff at Statistics Sierra Leone received medals for their hard work, outstanding and meritorious service to the country in various capacities.
Haja Fatu Yumkella-Sankoh, Mrs. Aliea Kamara and Mrs. Maude Peacock were also recognized and commended for their untiring efforts and selfless service to the country. At the well-attended event, speaker after speaker underscored that when women support each other incredible things happen.
The Master of Ceremony, Mr. Yera Kargbo, who also gave a brief history of Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay, Director and founding member of the Global Foundation for Women and Development, enlightened that it is a global organisation that promotes gender equality and socio-economic empowerment of women, that the award to prominent Sierra Leonean women started in 2016 and that the organisation has also supported many communities.
Mr. Yera Kargbo is a consultant on leadership and rural development and was once Deputy General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority. He has also served in various organisations dealing with women and children. Mr. Kargbo is a certified Global Project Manager with certifications from the Project Management Institute in the United States.
In her statement, Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay acclaimed eminent Sierra Leonean women who have excelled against all odds for which they must be celebrated daily, underscored that they have climbed the mountains, that they are champions and have paved the way for others reiterating that they have made a difference in the country, that she started the awards ceremony in 2016 and underlined that Sierra Leonean women are resilient.
Giving an update on the ‘Lappa to apron’ initiative, Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay revealed that the organisation is changing from “LAPPA TO APRON” in market places in Sierra Leone to promote public health and is optimistic that the initiative would foster good hygiene practices, food safety and also promote public health in market places.
She recalled that the “LAPPA TO APRON project was launched in Potoru, Barrie Chiefdom, Southern Province of Sierra Leone on 31st December 2022 intimating that the market women in Potoru have for the first time started wearing aprons, that over 450 aprons have been donated to market women and men selling in the following markets: Potoru Town, Njala, Makonde,(NUC), Congo Town, Wilberforce, Aberdeen Road, Blackhall Road and Malama Thomas Street adding that the initiative is supported by family and friends from Sierra Leone, UK, USA and UAE.
She also commended Reverend Canon Joseph and Mrs Maria Tucker & family, the Sawyerr family, Modu Jr. & Hamusa Sesay, Iscandari family, Bismarck Davies family, Lukulay family, Bishop Samuel Gbonda and family, Mr Melvin and Mrs. Hawa Tucker & family, Mrs Francess John, Dr. and Mrs David Khanu & family, Mrs Valish Coker and family, Mrs Aliea Kamara & family, Ms. Ann Akaki, Mrs Victoria Kargbo & family, Ms. Jane Moikowa, Ms Beatrice Kuyateh, Haja Fatu Yumkelĺa-Sankoh & family, Dr. Robert Moikowa, Mr Foday Brima Sawi & family, Ms Isata Sawi and De-Masoki, Mr and Mrs. Rashid Sesay & family and Mr & Mrs Mahmoud Kamara.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of medals to the awardees, the dinner and dance, donation of aprons to various markets in Freetown and other parts of the country and pledges amounting to 6.5 million Leones.
Some of the women of excellence who made pledges were Mrs. Margaret Nelson-Williams and Mrs. Maude Peacock–fabrics respectively, Mrs. Fatima Koroma and Mrs. Simity Zorokong.
Beneficiaries of the aprons acclaimed the initiative which they stressed cannot be overstated as they can now do their business and still remain clean, neat and tidy, keep their money and other valuables in the pockets provided in the aprons and appealed for more aprons.
