By Alpha Sesay
The 10th Annual National Girls’ Empowerment Forum Summit, organized by Kids Advocacy Network, convened hundreds of girls, educators and youth advocates at the Sierra Leone Parliament to celebrate a decade of empowering young women and advancing gender equality in Sierra Leone.
The week-long summit, held from October 10 to 14, 2025, was themed: “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline in Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Inclusive Governance.” It provided a platform for girls to express themselves, build leadership skills and engage with policymakers on issues affecting their development.
Serving as Guest Lecturer, Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah (Hon. Chericoco), a distinguished lawmaker, former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and three-term Member of Parliament, delivered an inspirational lecture on “Leadership and Self-Confidence.” He urged young girls to embrace courage, integrity and self-belief as powerful tools for driving change and contributing meaningfully to national development.
Hon. Chericoco praised the Kids Advocacy Network for its ten years of impactful work in promoting girls’ rights and providing platforms for youth empowerment. He described the forum as “a vital space where girls are seen, heard and prepared to lead with confidence and compassion.”
“A girl who speaks up for her friend, organizes her peers for community action or refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice is already a leader,” he said. “Leadership is about influence, courage and integrity; not perfection.”
He emphasized that leadership begins with self-confidence, describing it as the cornerstone of personal and social transformation. Citing leadership researcher Ruth Axelrod, he explained confidence as “an individual’s level of certainty about their ability to handle things.” Hon. Chericoco encouraged participants to cultivate resilience, confront challenges with courage and believe in their abilities to make positive change.
“Confidence is not the absence of fear,” he added. “It is acting despite fear, guided by your values and vision. When you rise, Sierra Leone rises with you.”
Addressing the persistent challenges facing girls, such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence, the Honourable called for stronger community engagement and Government commitment to ensuring that every girl has access to education and leadership opportunities.
“Our nation cannot progress if half of its people are silenced,” he declared. “When girls are denied education, Sierra Leone loses half of its potential.”
As the National Girls’ Empowerment Forum marked its tenth anniversary, Hon. Chericoco urged participants to continue leading change in their communities and schools, further stressing that leadership is not defined by gender, but by confidence and action.
“Confidence, not gender, defines leadership,” he concluded. “Girls of Sierra Leone, you are not just the leaders of tomorrow, you are leaders today.”
The Kids Advocacy Network reaffirmed its commitment to supporting girls across Sierra Leone through mentorship, education and advocacy programs. The summit continues to stand as a beacon of hope, inspiring a new generation of young women to rise as confident, compassionate and capable leaders shaping the nation’s future.
