Today, I was honoured to receive His Excellency Saud Al Musaed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sierra Leone, at my office for a cordial and constructive engagement aimed at strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and diplomatic cooperation between our two nations. As a Muslim woman who firmly believes in religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect, I recognise the importance of building bridges across nations, cultures, and faiths. Our diversity is a source of strength, and our commitment to understanding one another remains essential to building a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous society. Our discussions highlighted the enduring ties that unite Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including our shared Muslim faith, which continues to serve as an important foundation for friendship, solidarity, and mutual understanding. We also reflected on the importance of deepening our diplomatic relations and exploring opportunities for greater cooperation in areas of mutual interest and benefit to our people. I remain convinced that meaningful diplomacy goes beyond formal engagements; it is about building trust, strengthening partnerships, and creating opportunities that stand the test of time. As we continue to advance our national and international relationships, Sierra Leone remains committed to fostering mutual respect, international cooperation, and peaceful coexistence with all nations. I thank His Excellency for the visit and look forward to continued engagement in the spirit of friendship, shared values, and a common commitment to strengthening the relationship between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. FMB.

Today, I held a productive meeting with the United Nations family in preparation for the historic celebration of the first United Nations Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, to be commemorated on 27 November. This landmark observance represents an important milestone in our collective efforts to protect the rights, dignity, and future of every girl child. It is a powerful reminder that ending child, early and forced marriage requires sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and collective action. As a longstanding advocate for the rights and protection of women and girls through my Hands Off Our Girls campaign, I remain deeply committed to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to learn, grow, make her own choices, and fulfil her fullest potential without the burden of early or forced marriage. Our preparations with the United Nations family reaffirm our shared determination to turn this historic achievement into lasting change for girls, families, and communities across Sierra Leone, Africa, and the world. On 27 November, we will not only celebrate a significant milestone; we will renew our commitment to a future where every girl is protected, every childhood is valued, and every girl is free to pursue her dreams. Together, let us end child, early and forced marriage and build a world where every girl can thrive. FMB. #HandsOffOurGirls #EndChildMarriage #GirlsRights #27November #UnitedNations

I joined my husband, His Excellency Brig. (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, to graciously launch the Sierra Leone Ocean Shipping Company (SLOIC) at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. This historic milestone represents another important step in our collective efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s maritime sector, create new economic opportunities, and position our country to benefit more meaningfully from its strategic location and ocean resources. The launch of SLOIC is not only about shipping; it is about connecting Sierra Leone to greater opportunities in trade, investment, logistics and regional commerce. A stronger maritime industry can create jobs for our young people, support local businesses and contribute significantly to our national development. As we continue building a more resilient and prosperous Sierra Leone, I remain inspired by the progress being made under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio. F.M.B

My husband and I demonstrated what it truly means to lead by example. We visited our private farms at various locations in Bonthe District. We started with a symbolic harvest of hundreds of acres of rice, and thereafter visited our fish farm and livestock facilities. This is a testament to the fact that the Feed Salone Initiative requires collective responsibility. If we, as a family, can farm, every Sierra Leonean can. We must all play our individual roles in ensuring that we grow what we eat and eat what we grow. I am therefore calling on organizations, agencies, and the private sector to invest in agriculture and help make our country a food self-sufficient nation. F.M.B.

Dakar has once again shown the world the true meaning of African solidarity and leadership. Today, under the gracious hosting of my dear sister, Her Excellency Mrs. Marie Khone Faye, First Lady of Senegal, we successfully launched the national “Building Resilience” campaign — strengthening the resilience of women and girls in the face of climate change and conflict. I am deeply grateful to Her Excellency Marie Khone Faye for her warm hospitality, her powerful advocacy, and the exemplary leadership she has shown in making Senegal the seventh country to officially join this continental movement. Her clear message that “Africa will build nothing sustainable without women and girls” resonated strongly with all of us and perfectly reflects the spirit of OAFLAD. We were especially honoured by the presence and strong support of His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. His personal engagement and the full backing of the Government of Senegal send a powerful signal that the issues affecting women and girls are national priorities. The presence of sister First Ladies from across the continent further demonstrated our shared determination to turn commitment into concrete action. The launch in Dakar was a resounding success. It strengthened our collective resolve, deepened partnerships, and reaffirmed that when African First Ladies stand together, we can drive meaningful change for the health, education, safety, and economic empowerment of women and girls. On behalf of OAFLAD, I thank the people and leadership of Senegal for their exceptional hospitality and partnership. Together, we are building a more resilient Africa — one in which every woman and girl can thrive. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio President, Organisation of African First Ladies for Development First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone

I am honoured to lead the official launch of Building Resilience, a continental initiative under my leadership as President of OAFLAD. This initiative reflects our collective commitment to strengthening the resilience of women and girls in the face of climate change, conflict, and other challenges affecting their health, dignity, and livelihoods. Together, we will continue to champion practical solutions, strengthen partnerships, and advance a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive. Building Resilience. Empowering Women. Transforming Lives. FMB.

I had the honour of accompanying my beloved husband as he delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Geneva Peace Forum 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. As a former military officer who understands the true cost of conflict, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio continues to champion dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect as the foundations of lasting global stability. In his capacity as Chairman of the C10, he brings an important African voice to international discussions on peace, security, sovereignty, and cooperation. At a time of growing global uncertainty, his message is both timely and profound: “Choose peace, and choose it early.” I am immensely proud to stand beside a leader who recognises that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but a shared responsibility that demands courage, wisdom, and collective action. May we choose dialogue over division, understanding over hostility, and diplomacy over confrontation, for the sake of humanity and the generations yet to come. FMB.

At The City Pavilion in Romford, I had the honour of representing my beloved husband, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, at the inauguration of the new SLPP United Kingdom and Ireland Regional Executive. My heart was filled with pride to witness our people, distinguished leaders and members of different political parties coming together in a spirit of unity and mutual respect. As a mother and First Lady, I firmly believe that although we may have different political views, we share one home and one future. The presence of members of the All People’s Congress was a powerful reminder that we can rise above our differences and put Sierra Leone first. To the newly inaugurated executive, congratulations. I urge you to lead with humility, integrity and a genuine commitment to serving our people. Let us continue to embrace one another, protect our peace and build a Sierra Leone that our children and generations yet unborn will be proud to inherit. May Allah bless our beloved nation and guide us towards greater unity and prosperity. One Country. One People. One Sierra Leone. 🇸🇱❤️ FMB

I had the profound honour of accompanying my beloved husband, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, to the Vatican, where we had the privilege of meeting His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. It was a deeply meaningful and historic moment for me as I watched my husband meet the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church with profound joy, humility, respect, and admiration. I was immensely proud to stand beside him and share in this significant moment in his life. As a Muslim woman married to a Catholic man who holds his faith and doctrine deeply dear, I have come to cherish the beauty of our shared journey. Our different religious traditions have never been a barrier to our love; rather, they have taught us the enduring values of mutual respect, understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. I proudly support my husband in his faith, just as he honours and respects mine. In our marriage, we have learned that our differences can enrich our understanding of one another and strengthen the bonds that unite us. This encounter at the Vatican was a powerful reminder that faith, at its best, should be a bridge between people and communities—not a wall that divides us. In a world that needs greater compassion, dialogue, and understanding, our shared commitment to faith, family, peace, and humanity remains a source of strength. I thank Almighty God for granting me the grace to witness this extraordinary moment and to stand beside my husband on this memorable occasion. May our lives and our example continue to affirm the timeless truth that love, respect, tolerance, and faith can bring humanity closer together. FMB

These are My thoughts and candid opinions.