By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
In a bold demonstration of its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, Africell Sierra Leone hosted a grand celebration in honor of International Women’s Day 2025. Themed “Accelerating Gender Equality in the Workplace and Beyond,” the event, held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Africell Headquarters, 1 Pivot Street, Wilberforce, Freetown, brought together influential women across Sierra Leone, representatives from UN Women, UNDP, ILO, and school-going pupils.
Africell’s celebration aimed to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of women in various sectors. The event also sought to inspire the next generation of female leaders, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), by showcasing successful women in these fields. And reaffirmed Africell’s dedication to breaking barriers, fostering leadership, and promoting inclusivity in the corporate space.
Keynote Address: Empowering Women in the Workplace
Delivering the keynote address, Madam Salima Monorma Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), emphasized the importance of Africell’s efforts in empowering women, especially in male-dominated industries. She highlighted Africell as a leading example of gender-inclusive corporate policies and praised the company’s commitment to showcasing the achievements of women across Africa.
The Minister also acknowledged Africell’s collaboration with the Ministry on initiatives such as “Careers in STEM,” which aim to encourage young girls to pursue careers in science and technology. She stressed that featuring successful women leaders in diverse sectors would serve as a powerful motivation for students by demonstrating tangible pathways to success.
Recognizing Africell as a “HeForShe” champion, Madam Bah commended the company’s advocacy for women’s leadership roles. She noted that the Bio-led government continues to introduce policies that ensure women have equal opportunities in decision-making processes. She also expressed gratitude to female mentors and role models, urging women to support and uplift one another.
She concluded by congratulating Africell on its strides toward gender inclusivity and expressed anticipation for further discussions on women’s empowerment.
Speaking at the event, Shadi Al-Gerjaw, Chief Executive Officer of Africell Sierra Leone, reinforced Africell’s commitment to action beyond words in the pursuit of gender equality in the workplace. He proudly announced that, for the past three years, all four of Africell’s key operational pillars—Voice and Data, Enterprise Business Unit, Financial Services, and Digital—have been led by women.
Furthermore, he said Africell has actively invested in leadership training programs for women, with the goal of surpassing the government’s 30% female representation threshold. He announced that for International Women’s Day 2025, Africell had granted all its female employees a full day off, leaving the male staff to assume their roles. Stating that the move was designed to highlight the irreplaceable contributions of women in the company and serve as a gesture of appreciation.
“This will be a challenge for the male employees, but it is also an opportunity for them to understand and value the contributions of our female staff,” said Shadi Al-Gerjaw.
A major highlight of the celebration was an engaging panel discussion on the theme “Women Empowerment in the Workplace: Breaking Barriers in STEM and Beyond.” The session featured female leaders in technology, engineering, and business, who shared their experiences and insights on overcoming gender biases in the corporate world.
The discussion focused on: Challenges women face in STEM and strategies to overcome them. The role of mentorship in fostering female leadership. The importance of inclusive policies in corporate organizations. And encouraging young girls to pursue careers in male-dominated industries
Speakers encouraged young female attendees to embrace STEM careers with confidence and take advantage of the growing opportunities in digital technology.
Africell honored outstanding female employees during the event, presenting the “Woman of the Year” award to exceptional women across various departments in the company. The award recognized their dedication, leadership, and impact within Africell.
Additionally, a raffle draw was conducted, where 10 lucky female employees won prizes, further adding excitement to the celebration.
Africell Sierra Leone’s International Women’s Day celebration served as a powerful reminder of the importance of accelerating gender equality in the workplace and beyond. The event reinforced Africell’s commitment to uplifting women, fostering leadership opportunities, and ensuring a more inclusive future for all.
As the celebration came to an end, the message was clear: Gender equality is not just a goal; it is a necessity for sustainable development and progress. Africell’s efforts stand as a beacon of inspiration for other corporate institutions to follow suit in empowering women and fostering an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.
