The Global Foundation for Women and Development (GFWD) on Saturday 6th January 2024 presented awards to four outstanding, remarkable and amazing Sierra Leonean women who have excelled in various areas of national development and at the same time touched the lives of many.
It was an evening of glamour, celebration and recognition. The awards are just a small token given to the awardees, who are “AMAZING WOMEN” and community champions!!
The four guests of honour were Mrs. Minny H. Mahoi Gilles, Madam Adama B. Wurie, Mrs Margaret A.A.E. Nelson-Williams and Haja Theresa F. Swaray.
Madam Adama B. Wurie completed a Diploma Course in Social Work and Social Administration from the University of Swansea in South Wales and returned home to work in the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rural Development. She also completed a BSc and Master’s degrees in Social Administration and Applied Social Work from Warwick University, UK.
She then worked for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Namibia and Ghana, providing care and maintenance for refugees, including education and resettlement opportunities in America, Canada and Australia.
Mrs. Minny H. Mahoi Gilles’ life reflects a heart of service and commitment to faith, family, friends and anyone she contacts. She has a heart of gold and always finds good in every situation, regardless of how bad it is.
Mrs Margaret Nelson-Williams obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in Fashion and Textile Design at the City of Leicester Polytechnic, UK and a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
She has served Sierra Leone in various capacities in the public sector for 44 years, most notably, as a teacher and Head of the Department of Creative Practical Arts at the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, where she held senior roles, including President of the Senior Staff Association and Senior Principal Lecturer, before she retired.
Mrs. Margaret Nelson-Williams has a track record of impactful leadership and community development in Sierra Leone.
Haja Theresa F. Swaray graduated as a Maternal Child Health Aid Nurse in 1983 and served as a Community Health Officer in Potoru in the Pujehun District for decades. After retirement in 2016, she now serves as a consultant for the community people in Barrie’s chiefdom.
The glamorous and well-attended ceremony took place at the Conference Hall of the Council of Churches on King Harman Road in Freetown, during which the four worthy “Stars” of Sierra Leone each received a star trophy, medal and ‘kente’ sash.
The Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Akie Sawyer, underscored that the four awardees are amazing women who made sacrifices and that she is honoured to present the awards to them, revealing that there are many more of such women who have untold stories to tell, revealing that Mrs Margaret Nelson-Williams produced the Mayor’s Robe.
The founding member and Director of GFWD, Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay, commended the awardees for all they have done for the women of Sierra Leone. She also said that the glamorous event is to acknowledge and celebrate amazing women, whom they discovered nationwide.
She asserted that the four awardees are all “AMAZING WOMEN”, who are supporting their communities. Dr. Sesay also said that they all epitomize leadership and a heart of gold.
Dr Sesay also told guests that GFWD is sponsored by family members, including the Jomar Tucker family, Josephine Davies family, Iscandari family, Mrs Francess John, Lukulay Foundation, Mrs Tunde Luke, Mrs Daisy Joko-Smart, Brima Sawi family, Melvin Tucker family, Madam Adama Wurie, Mr and Mrs. Francis Baffour, Mrs Margaret Nelson-Williams and many others, who believe in the work that GFWD is doing in the UK, Sierra Leone and Ghana.
The GFWD Director recalled that the event was held on the day the Revolutionary United Front Rebels invaded Freetown, January 6, 1999, during which they killed and maimed thousands of people, including women and children. She stated that Sierra Leonean women are resilient and helpful to others, despite the extreme gender inequality that they face in their different communities. She also highlighted the work done by some of the awardees.
Mrs. Margaret Nelson-Williams, locally produces fascinators, hats, and academic and other professional gowns.
Madam Adama Wurie has been supporting women and girls in various areas and Mrs Minny Mahoi Gilles has been supporting different communities in the UK and Sierra Leone including the Harford School for Girls, Moyamba.
Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay further launched the Girls Empowerment and Development Program for Harford School for Girls in Moyamba. This program will support girls with sanitary products for a year. Madam Adama B. Wurie also donated Le.5 thousand New Leones to support the program. A total of 38 girls will receive sanitary products to keep them in school during menstruation.
Mrs Margaret Nelson-Williams disclosed that she would soon launch her footwear factory in Freetown, for which she has bought seven (7) of the machines and that training of workers would start next month.
It was disclosed at the ceremony that some of the proceeds from the awards ceremony would be donated to the shoe project, while Madam Adama Wurie, one of the awardees, also donated Le 5 thousand New Leones towards the shoe project. Madam Adama Wurie was also commended for donating fifty ice containers, each costing Le.1.5 thousand New Leones, to fishmongers along Lumley Beach in Freetown.
It was also disclosed that the GFWD has donated over 700 aprons in its nationwide apron project for market women. The main reason for GFWD to donate aprons is for hygiene and sanitation reasons. These aprons act as a “sanitation barrier” for better health and safety in our marketplaces.
These aprons are important personal protective equipment (PPE) and they also help to uphold food safety standards. Various market women highlighted the importance of wearing aprons while selling their wares. According to some of them, the aprons keep them clean, tidy and professional with pockets to safely keep their mobile phones and money and also prevent stains on their clothes.
Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay and Mr. Victor Brown were the co-Masters of the Ceremony.
One of the highlights of the event was the “Star” of Sierra Leone fashion and fascinator show and the sale of beautiful hats and fascinators produced by the talented designer and Milliner, Mrs. Margaret Nelson-Williams.
It was indeed an evening of elegance, glamour, celebration and recognition.
Well done to all the members, sponsors and supporters of GFWD for such a great evening!!
