By Mohamed Muckson Sesay
The Koinadugu Girls Education Movement (Koin-GEM) in collaboration with the National Union of Koinadugu and Falaba Students (NUKaFS), the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and partners on Thursday, 15th October, 2026, commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child at the Koinadugu District Council Hall in Kabala.
Held under the theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” the high-profile event brought together the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Hon. Manty Tarawalli (Kuranko Musu), Paramount Chiefs, representatives from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Council of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS), the Sierra Leone Police, civil society and stakeholders from Koinadugu and Falaba Districts.
The commemoration aimed at promoting girls’ education, protecting their rights and strengthening advocacy to end child marriage and other harmful practices affecting girls in the two districts.
In his opening statement as Chairman of the occasion, Mohamed Muckson Sesay emphasized the importance of girls’ education and women’s empowerment as a cornerstone for community development. He called on parents to take a more active role in shaping the future of their children, particularly the girl child.
“I want to see the people of Kabala and its surroundings help their school children exceed their potentials and become role models who are not dependent on men for survival,” Sesay said.
Hon. Manty Tarawalli Inspires Girls
Delivering her keynote address, Hon. Manty Tarawalli, popularly known as Kuranko Musu, said it was a special honour to stand before the people of Kabala to commemorate the day.
“Today, I want to speak directly to you: to the girls who are still discovering their potential, to the young ladies who are beginning to define their ambitions, and to every young woman who is daring to imagine a future beyond the limitations that society may sometimes place before her,” she told the gathering.
Minister Manty urged girls and women to remain focused and resilient in their pursuit of education and personal growth.
“I want you to leave here today with three things: a stronger belief in yourselves, a clearer understanding of your rights, and the courage to pursue the future you deserve,” she said.
“Every girl deserves the opportunity to grow, to learn, to dream, to make choices about her life and to become the very best version of herself. For too many girls, especially here in Koinadugu, the opportunity to learn, to dream and make choices is interrupted by child marriage,” Hon. Tarawalli concluded.
Giving a flashback and reflection on past interventions, the Coordinator of the Koinadugu Girls Education Movement, Madam Elizabeth Haja Korio, recounted gains made in promoting girls’ education and equal rights.
“We started with few girls in school, today we are seeing more girls completing secondary school and entering university, and most of them are working in the council representatives. But we cannot relent until every girl in Koinadugu and Falaba has access to safe and quality education,” Madam Korio stated.
On her part, Haja Bintu Mansaray of the Koinadugu Women’s Network, called for collective action to end child marriage.
“Empowering a girl is empowering a nation. We must continue to support our daughters and ensure no girl is forced into early marriage at the expense of her future,” she said.
Representatives from the Council of Principals and the Ministry of Gender reaffirmed their commitment to enforce policies that protect girls and keep them in school.
As part of the commemoration, Paramount Chiefs and other stakeholders who have championed girls’ education and women’s empowerment in Koinadugu and Falaba Districts were awarded Certificates of Appreciation.
Students of Kabala Secondary School thrilled the audience with inspirational poems centered on girls’ rights and women’s empowerment, while students from other schools across Kabala gave a rousing welcome to the keynote speaker, Hon. Manty Tarawalli.
The event, which was co-hosted by Teneh Marah, was graced by members of the security sector, traditional leaders, school pupils and the media.
