Highlights Mari-Ama Gborie
Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Mano River Union (MRU) is a regional intergovernmental organization founded in 1973 by Liberia and Sierra Leone, named after the Mano River forming their border. It comprises four West African nations: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire.
In order to promote economic integration, peace, security, democratic government, and social-cultural collaboration, MRU seeks to speed post-civil war growth and regional stability. Infrastructure, coordinated policies, cooperative security patrols, and cross-border trade are important priorities. The MRU, which has its headquarters in Freetown, Sierra Leone, organizes summits on themes including security and development.
MRU has highlighted the leadership and operations of Madam Mari-Ama Gborie Secretariat as part of its efforts to promote women, ahead of #IWD2026. International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed annually on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality worldwide.
The main campaign theme for 2026 is “Give To Gain”, promoting reciprocity investing in women through support, resources, and opportunities benefits society as a whole. The UN theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, calls for dismantling barriers like discriminatory laws and ensuring equal access to justice, ahead of the 70th Commission on the Status of Women.
As the Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Development and Regional Integration and Sierra Leone’s representative to the Secretariat, Madam Mari-Ama Gborie is the driving force behind trade and economic policies among member nations.
She managed multimillion-dollar initiatives at the Office of the President of Sierra Leone for almost ten years prior to her appointment in 2024. Better infrastructure and more robust public systems have been made possible by her collaborations with the World Bank Group, African Development Bank Group Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and numerous other partners.
She demonstrates that African women are at the forefront of sustainable development with her twin Master’s degrees and prestigious international certifications (PMP, CP3P).
“On this #IWD2026, we celebrate her commitment to ensuring that as we give our expertise, we all gain a more integrated and prosperous subregion.”
