The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Jabbie-Bio, says for the past year, all the clothing she has been wearing for both indoor and outdoor events is made in Sierra Leone, courtesy of the Abacha Street Women.
She was speaking at the official opening and launch of a three-day ‘Made in Sierra Leone’ Trade Fair and Exhibition, at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel Garden in Freetown, organized by the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) yesterday, Friday 20th May 2022.
In her keynotes, the First Lady described her clothing as the most beautiful dresses she had ever put on, which had attracted so much admiration from local and international friends. She associates the good news as a result of the added value and quality being invested by brilliant women and men that are knee-deep in promoting ‘Made in Sierra Leone’ products.
Madam Bio said she is humbled to be amid Sierra Leonean business experts in their field, along with partners that are more than ready to promote the made in Sierra Leone platform, which, according to her, is an opportunity for women to celebrate and support one another. She says for the nation to develop, it requires stronger forces and partners to develop the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen the country’s economy, which, she believes, was able to survive through COVID-19 as a result of the support received from the SMEs.
On behalf of her husband and the country, the First Lady expressed gratitude to development partners who are supporting SMEs and the "Made in Sierra Leone" initiative nationwide, assuring the government and the country's approximately 52 percent of women. She said if women are empowered, every government will be relaxed because women will be charged with being ready to solve problems with multiple abilities to multitask.’
Madam Bio said, "When the enterprises are successful, they take care of many problems in our homes, from health, education, food, and other charges." Against this backdrop, I am calling on partners to support this initiative. She expressed how impressed she was to grace the occasion, especially with the display of local products at the Radisson Garden, as she pleaded with guests and the nation in particular to support women and the idea.
The First Lady is optimistic that the three-day trade fair will showcase the nation’s local content, as she called on all to use the opportunity to appreciate those business people by way of buying their products. She noted, "as the industry is transforming under the Director-General of SLLCA, Fodeba Daboh, the institution has been moved from baby’s step to where it is today." "You are on the right track and I want to encourage you to keep going at a more accelerated pace," she said.
The Director-General of SLLCA, Mr. Fodeba Daboh, said the purpose of the ‘Buy and Sellers’ meet is to bring local suppliers across the country to enable them with a platform to showcase their different local content to fellow Sierra Leoneans and the world at large. He said local content is not only about competing locally, but rather, it is also about competitiveness and ensuring that goods and services, including people from this part of the world, are placed in a better position to compete internationally.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, cited, "What we are seeing on display here is a true testament of the work of people who believe in themselves and have been doing this trade for a long time, making sure citizens are better placed in a way that they can produce what we can consume." The minister applauds the work of SLLCA, stressing that they are making gains under the leadership of Fodeba Daboh. According to him, "we are seeing a new trajectory of energy and much life, ranging from the increase in the number of companies to a more responsive local content law in the SLLCA Act." "A testimony of a true and refreshing energy among our local producers and manufacturers," he observed.
First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Jabbie-Bio
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