Banjul, Gambia – Madam Kartumu Y. Boakai, First Lady of Liberia, has challenged Africa’s First Ladies to unite and speak collectively not for attention but for change, during the 12th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary event in Banjul, Gambia.
“Not for applause, but for impact,” Madam Boakai stated during her speech on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Let the world hear us, not as specters of male leadership, but as the symphony of mothers rising to reimagine a continent’s destiny, restore its dignity, and redeem it.
During her speech, she reminded first ladies of Africa that they are the heartbeat of Africa; adding that they should beat louder, stronger and together.
According to her, first ladies are more than what they think; adding that they are the first responders to suffering, the first believers in potential, and the first defenders of dignity.
Also, she called on them to not leave the gathering with handshakes alone, photo-ops, or adoration in beautiful attire and cute smiles, but with commitments carved into policy, utilizing new knowledge learned from others, programs shaped by data, reflections applied in practice, and love sealed in action.
“Once upon a time, there was a piece of clay in the hands of the potter. It feared the heat; it dreaded the fire. But the potter said, Without the furnace, you will forever remain fragile. So, the clay endured the fire, and came out strong a vessel fit for service. So too are the women of Africa, especially First Ladies refined not by ease, but by fire. And now, we pour healing into nations. And Merck Foundation has been the fire that helped shape us not to burn, but to build,” Madam Boakai added.
Liberia’s First Lady explained that it is time for history to be recorded that it was not parliaments alone, but palaces of purpose like this, rooms filled with First Ladies gathered by Merck Foundation, that turned the tide on stigma, silence, and suffering. She described the impact of the Merck Foundation as being both groundbreaking and evident.
According to her, in the past, fifty-two Liberian doctors have received Merck Foundation scholarships in critically underserved fields; saying, the specialized degrees are life-savers to communities, an additional 71 new scholarships are being processed, and the vetted candidates are preparing to join this journey. I say this without hesitation: some of these professionals are the first in our country in their field.
She further, “The grandeur of all that I will not stop mentioning is that our Minister of Health herself and other key leaders in the Ministry of Health in Liberia are proud Merck Foundation alumni a demonstration of what happens when investment meets integrity. In my Liberian vernacular, I say, “Thank you plenty,” Merck! You have gone above and beyond to train individuals and plant institutions within people. Additionally, through the Educating Linda program, Merck Foundation and my office are supporting the education of 40 brilliant but disadvantaged girls—20 from previous years and 20 more recently added. I believe these are scholarships and tickets to dignity, votes of confidence, and shields against poverty.”
“The beauty of everything that I can’t stop talking about is that our Minister of Health herself and other important figures in Liberia’s Ministry of Health are proud Merck Foundation alumni, which is proof of what happens when honesty and investment are combined,” she continued. “Thank you plenty,” I say to Merck, in my Liberian dialect. You have gone above and beyond to develop people and build institutions within people. In addition, my office and the Merck Foundation are supporting 40 gifted but poor girls 20 from previous years and another 20 recently added to continue their education through the Educating Linda program. I consider these to be “tickets to dignity, votes of confidence, scholarships, and protections against poverty.”
We have fully embraced the Merck Foundation’s creative campaigns, from songs and films to media training, children’s storybooks, and fashion that tells stories of healing and hope, Madam Boakai noted, adding that she has learned that health begins first in the home, shaped by mindsets, and strengthened by the messages people listen to before it reaches the hospital.
“By working together, we are eradicating stigma, reducing shame, and fostering more empathy. Let me state this clearly: Women are not to blame for infertility. Being mentally ill is not a taboo topic. The death penalty does not apply to addiction. Every girl has the right to dream bigger than her current situation.”
The First Lady promised to do more upon her return to Liberia through the Merck Foundation; saying, In July, she launched a US$3 million multi-purpose village a sanctuary of healing designed for mothers battling trauma, youth overcoming addiction, and children living with autism or intellectual disabilities.
Photo credit: First Lady Office
Reported by: Prince Saah
