The DIB Movement Leader and APC presumptive flagbearer, Dr Ibrahim Bangura has called for increased national efforts to protect girls’ rights, increase access to quality education and eliminate harmful practices like child marriage.
He made the call on Friday, October 30, 2026, in his keynote address as a Guest Speaker at the 11th Annual National Girls Empowerment Forum. The event was organized by the Kids Advocacy Network Sierra Leone and held at the Sierra Leone Parliament in Freetown.
The theme for this year’s forum was, “Her Choice Is to Be in School, Not in the Matrimonial Home: Invest in Her and End FGM for a Better Future.” The theme was on the importance of collective action to protect girls’ education, dignity, health and future opportunities.
Dr. Bangura noted that the empowerment of girls was a key national development priority. “Investing in girls is the key to building Sierra Leone’s human capital, promoting social progress and ensuring long-term prosperity,” he said.
He emphasized that education should not be assessed only on the basis of academic performance. It also equips girls with knowledge, confidence and opportunities to make informed decisions, achieve economic independence and make meaningful contributions to their communities and country.
“Every girl should be able to complete her education and decide the course of her future free of coercion, discrimination or avoidable barriers,” he said.
Dr Bangura warned that early marriage and other harmful practices may interfere with girls’ education, negatively affect their well-being and limit their participation in economic and political life. He said the challenges demanded coordinated responses from across society, not just from individuals.
He called on government, Parliament, schools, parents, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations and development partners to join hands to tackle the social and economic conditions that deny girls access to school. He said protecting girls and improving their education should be a shared responsibility.
The DIB Movement Leader also argued that girls’ empowerment cannot be charity. Instead, he called it a “critical investment in Sierra Leone’s development”. “Girls should not be viewed just as the beneficiaries of development programs but as active players in shaping the country’s social, economic and democratic future,” he said.
“Including boys and men in the work to challenge negative attitudes and create equal opportunity is critically important,” said Dr. Bangura. “We need to create a community where every child is valued and protected and has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential,” he said.
He called on stakeholders to translate public promises into tangible outcomes through increasing access to quality education, developing child-protection systems, expanding opportunities for mentorship and skill development, and providing targeted support to vulnerable girls. The efforts should bring measurable improvements in girls’ safety, education and empowerment, he said.
He commended the Kids Advocacy Network Sierra Leone for continuing the National Girls Empowerment Forum, and urged for greater collaboration to ensure that advocacy translates into sustained outcomes.
Dr Bangura concluded that protecting and empowering girls must remain a priority for Sierra Leone’s development goals. Investing in our girls is investing in Sierra Leone. “By protecting their childhood, we are securing our future together,” he said.
