Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – At the 30th General Assembly of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (Organization of African First Ladies for Development) in Addis Ababa, the First Lady of Liberia gave a strong and passionate speech, urging bold, systemic reforms to protect and empower women and girls throughout the continent. She stated that “resilience must be a right, not a reaction.”
Speaking on the topic “Building Resilience for Women and Girls: Climate, Conflict, and Sustainable Futures,” the First Lady of Liberia presented the event as a pivotal moment for Africa’s future rather than a ceremonial milestone.
“There is something sacred about this soil, Addis Ababa,” she said, invoking the historic ties between Liberia and Ethiopia as two nations that resisted colonial rule. “When the continent bowed under the weight of colonialism, we remained upright and fearless because we believed in a free Africa before the world did,” the First Lady stated.
Her speech abruptly moved from contemplation of the past to pressing realities. She cautioned that violent conflicts, systemic exclusion, and climate change are combining to disproportionately affect women and girls.
“When the sky refuses to rain, it is the girl who walks farther. When food becomes scarce, it is the mother who eats last. And when violence erupts, it is the woman’s body that bears the memory of war,” she declared, drawing sustained applause from fellow First Ladies, African Union officials, and development partners.
Madam Boakai urged African leaders to formalize women’s resilience as national policy rather than merely praising it as a cultural trait. “We must cease praising women for enduring ineffective systems. “We need to create structures that uphold their honor, safeguard their aspirations, and foster their leadership,” she continued.
Liberia’s First Lady referred to water availability as a “gendered emergency,” citing the African Union’s 2026 focus on sustainable water and sanitation. She also linked poor infrastructure to increased vulnerabilities in rural communities and school dropouts among girls.
“Water isn’t neutral. It’s a political issue. It has a spiritual component. We are not creating a sustainable future if we do not ensure it for women and girls; rather, we are accepting collapse,” she stated.
Speaking about Liberia’s internal initiatives, Madam Boakai gave President Joseph N. Boakai Sr. credit for promoting a governance plan that prioritizes women and girls in the country’s recovery. She highlighted the expansion of the Merck “Educating Linda” scholarship program for vulnerable girls, the renovation of rural maternity and neonatal wards, the creation of a High-Level Women’s Coalition for Maternal and Newborn Health, and the heightened awareness of trauma and addiction associated with conflict and climate distress.
“Women are already strong; our goal is not to make them stronger. Our goal is to create systems that are robust enough to merit them,” she said.
Madam Boakai emphasized throughout her speech the need for women to be fully involved in national budgeting, peace talks, and climate adaption planning. “Gender justice is a prerequisite for climate justice. And without the signatures of women, no peace agreement can be reached,” she said.
As the 30th Assembly commemorated thirty years of African First Ladies’ joint work, she challenged her peers to turn symbolic power into quantifiable impact. Madam Boakai recounted, “We came together to multiply women’s strength, not to admire it.”
Photo credit: Office of the First Lady
Reported by: Prince Saah
