By Lewis S. Teh
Freetown, Sierra Leone; July 10, 2025 -Global leaders across Africa gather at the 7th Edition of Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) to foster women’s empowerment and child protection across Sierra Leone.
The Conference took place in Freetown, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and collaborators joined government leaders, faith communities, and civil society to champion women’s empowerment and child protection in the country, held recently at the Bintumani National Conference Centre in Freetown under the theme “Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection.”
The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, stated that the conference presented a unique platform to drive lasting change and consequently challenged stakeholders to turn dialogue into action.
“Let me use this as a call to us all, not to let this be just a conference. Let us use this platform to design policies that will make women change-makers in our society,” she urged.
She emphasized that promoting women’s empowerment should not be reduced to tokenism, as genuinely empowering women has tangible and far-reaching effects.
“Women are agents of transformation. They build up the families, and our families are what build up our society,” the Sierra Leonean First Lady added.
Representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, echoed this conviction, highlighting the role of women in the home and across various facets of society.
“Women create harmonious and resilient communities. We need more women of virtue, purity, and empowerment, and this begins with the family,” he said.
Other dignitaries reinforced the shared mission. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, President of the Inter-Religious Council, described empowerment as a spiritual responsibility and, consequently, must be spearheaded by religious institutions.
“Religious institutions must champion gender equality and child welfare,” he noted.
Traditional leader Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku-Sonsiama, III, similarly said, “It is in our homes, towns, and villages that true transformation must begin. Nothing that when women are given a seat at the table, nations prosper.”
Representing Liberia at the Strengthening Families Conference, Ambassador Bob Sheriff and Amir Musa Mewa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission here, in a show of regional solidarity, extolled the organizers and called on leaders across the region to adopt strategies that promote women.
Also speaking was Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who underscored the benefits of dedicated care for the young.
“Children are shaped by their experiences; hence, families must create a conducive environment that contributes not just to their physical well-being but to their emotional and spiritual health,” he added.
Speakers such as Tonya Waite of Protect Child Health Coalition–USA, Jennifer Hogge Ellsworth of Engage Now Africa, and Sharon and Greg Slater of Family Watch International offered practical strategies for safeguarding children’s well-being.
Panelists Daniel F. H. Kettor, Blessing Kutubu, and Christiana Ogbemoye Oliko shared insights on regional collaboration and community-based support systems.
“Protecting children starts with building trust between families and the institutions designed to help them,” Mr. Kettor said.
The conference concluded with awards recognizing the First Lady’s leadership, including honors from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Social Welfare Department, and the Government of Liberia. Editing by Jonathan Browne
