Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Haja Ramatulai Wurie, has been selected as one of the 40 founding fellows of the inaugural African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, a prestigious continental initiative aimed at developing the next generation of ethical and transformative women leaders across Africa.
Sharing the announcement, Minister Wurie revealed that she joined 39 other exceptional women from across the continent after being chosen from a highly competitive pool of 1,334 applicants.
According to the Minister, the African Academy for Women in Political Leadership is a unique, non-academic leadership programme founded on the principles of intergenerational support, sisterhood, peer learning, and mentorship. The initiative seeks to build a strong pipeline of ethical, committed, and servant-minded women leaders capable of driving Africa’s development.
Reflecting on her selection, Wurie described leadership as a continuous journey of learning, reflection, and personal growth. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the pioneering programme, where fellows will engage with some of Africa’s most distinguished women leaders while also learning from one another’s diverse experiences.
She said she looks forward to the conversations, friendships, and collaborations that will emerge through the academy and expressed confidence that the knowledge and experience gained will strengthen her service to the people of Sierra Leone and the African continent.
The Minister also commended the African Women Leaders Network, the African Union Commission, United Nations Development Programme, the African School of Governance, and other partners for establishing the academy. She expressed hope that the inaugural cohort would inspire future generations of African women to lead with courage, integrity, and purpose.
Wurie further extended her appreciation to Julius Maada Bio for the opportunity to serve in public office and for creating what she described as an enabling environment that made the milestone possible, saying it reflects the growing influence of his leadership across the African continent.
