The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasised the need for women and girls to speak up when sexually exploited, abused or violated as this will not only help them access help and heal, but give others the confidence to speak up.
Busola Kukoyi, the Senior Assistant on Media to the First Lady, said in a press release that Mrs Tinubu asserted this in Sierra Leone at a special prayer organised by the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Madda Bio, in honour of survivors of sexual exploitation, abuse and violence as part of activities marking the United Nations Day of Prevention of, and Healing from Child Exploitation, Abuse and Violence.
Tinubu said: “Women, speak up because your voice can help others.
“When women stand together in freedom and speak their minds, they would remember that Fatima Madda Bio walked this path”.
She pointed out that the commemoration of the UN Day is not just a day of freedom for only Sierra Leone but Africa as a whole.
She commended the First Lady of Sierra Leone for the commitment, dedication and hard work she put into seeing that the day is a reality.
Earlier in her remarks, the host, Dr Fatima Madda Bio, pointed out that abusing women and girls is cowardly and should be eliminated using all possible legal and legislative means.
“As First Lady, I do not work for politics, but humanity, to give our best and we want to be remembered as those who changed the narrative in Sierra Leone,” she said.
The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Madda Bio, assured that his country remains committed to eliminating all barriers being faced by girls and women so they can actualise their potentials.
There was a recitation by school girls to drive home the point that they will no longer be instruments of sexual exploitation, abuse or violence.
Prayers were also offered for survivors.
This is the second day of the visit by Senator Tinubu to Sierra Leone, where she will join her Angolan counterpart and their host on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of the day.
