By Alpha Sesay
On Saturday, 11th October 2025, the 10th Annual National Girls’ Empowerment Forum Summit organised by Kids Advocacy Network, brought together hundreds of girls, educators, and youth advocates at the Sierra Leone Parliament. The week-long event, held from 10th to 14th October, 2025, was celebrated under the theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontline in Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Inclusive Governance.”
This year’s milestone edition featured Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah (Hon. Chericoco) as Guest Lecturer. The respected lawmaker, who also served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a three-term Member of Parliament, delivered an inspiring lecture on “Leadership and Self-Confidence,” urging young girls to embrace courage, integrity, and self-belief as key tools for transformational leadership.
Hon. Chericoco praised Kids Advocacy Network for its decade of impactful work in amplifying girls’ voices and promoting equality. 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, organises her peers for community action, or refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice is already a leader,” he said. “Leadership is about influence, courage, and integrity, not perfection.”
He defined self-confidence as the foundation of effective leadership, citing leadership researcher Ruth Axelrod’s idea that confidence is “an individual’s level of certainty about his or her ability to handle things.” Hon. Chericoco encouraged participants to cultivate inner strength, remain resilient in the face of challenges, and replace self-doubt with affirmations of growth.
“Confidence is not the absence of fear,” he explained. “It is acting despite fear, guided by your values and vision. When you rise, Sierra Leone rises with you.”
Highlighting the persistent challenges facing girls including early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence, Hon. Chericoco called for stronger community and policy action to ensure every girl has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, and thrive.
“Our nation cannot progress if half of its people are silenced,” he said. “When girls are denied education, Sierra Leone loses half of its potential.”
As the forum marked its tenth anniversary, Hon. Chericoco encouraged participants to continue building confidence and leading change in their schools and communities.
“Confidence, not gender, defines leadership,” he concluded. “Girls of Sierra Leone, you are not just the leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders today.”
The National Girls’ Empowerment Forum continues to be a beacon of hope for young women nationwide, promoting self-belief, resilience, and inclusive leadership.