By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Sierra
Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio is scheduled to represent Africa at the
Global Coalition Summit, Fostering the Future Together, hosted at the
White House in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the protection and empowerment of
children in the digital era.
In
her remarks ahead of the summit, the First Lady highlighted the dual nature of
technology as both a tool for education and innovation and a source of risks
for children. She stressed that global leaders have a shared responsibility to
ensure digital spaces remain safe, inclusive, and responsible.
“I
am profoundly pleased to stand as a voice for Africa—representing not only our
continent, but the millions of children whose futures depend on the choices we
make today,” she said, emphasizing Africa’s role in shaping global
conversations on child safety online.
First
Lady Bio expressed gratitude to Melania Trump for entrusting her with the
responsibility of serving as the African representative within the coalition.
She also announced plans to rally fellow African First Ladies to support the
initiative and collaborate with global leaders on policies and frameworks that
prioritize ethical digital practices and child protection.
The
First Lady affirmed her commitment to advocating for systems that not only
educate and protect children but empower them to become informed and
responsible digital citizens.
She
described her participation as a “moment of purpose” and called for urgent,
united action to secure a safer digital future for children across Africa and
the world.
