8 generations of women who had traverse male dominated spaces and have leaped over pitfalls and patriarchal minefields;
and triumph in their respective fields shared their experiences with other women during a ‘Leadership Generational Discourse’ at the Brookfields Hotel on Monday, 9th March, 2020.
Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) with funds from Civicus organized the generational discourse.
The dialogue was to celebrate achievements of women in this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) which falls on Sunday 8th March, 2020.
Representing generation 10 is Efua Russell who came first at the last academic year National Primary School Examination (NPSC).
Efua said that the secret of her success is sacrifice and hard work.
Claudia Red Wood Sawyer represented generation 20 is the Vice President of the Student Union at the Fourah Bay College is one of the few women who had held that position since the establishment of the University in the 1800s.
Betty Massally Brima, an expert in aviation one a male dominated field in Sierra Leone represented generation 30, spoke about interest and perseverance in following your dreams.
The first elected female Member of Parliament of Constituency 103, Hon. Rosaline Jariatu Smith represented generation 40. She said that the zest to achieve more through education and a very supportive husband was the key to her success.
While former Presidential Gender Adviser, Naasu Fofanah represented generation 50 explained how she had to sacrifice her marriage in order to capacitate herself through education, because her husband was not supportive.
The only female within the Sierra Leone Military that is distinct for her hijab, Major Ayodele Olunrunshon Davies represented generation 60, explained her ordeal in the military and how she endure over two decades of suppression in the army from attain promotion, but eventually succeeded in attain it.
Mariatu Sento Conteh former female councilor in Makeni representing generation 70 was conspicuously absent due to sexual gender based violence case in which she was the victim
Gender and Peace activist and an academic who is actively and extensively involved in civil society peace building and peace initiatives Dr Nana Pratt represented generation 80, explained about the good old days how they were
Delivering her keynote address, Glenna Macauley a female auto electrician of 17 years standing advised women to pursue careers that would make them relevant in society. Noting that it is not everyone that would be opportune to access university education but there are skills and craft if engaged in it would help them to be independent.
By Ophaniel Gooding
