FIRST LADY CHAMPIONS GLOBAL COLLABORATION AT NEW YORK SUMMIT

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐔𝐒𝐀 — 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 —The Third Annual Global First Partners Academy, convened at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, featured a keynote address by Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio. The event, themed “First Partners’ Networks for Regional and Global Impact,” brought together First ladies, global advocates and development partners from around the world to build alliances that prioritize action over ceremony, and unity over borders. Speaking both as First Lady and as President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Her Excellency emphasized the power and responsibility that First Ladies carry, not just as ceremonial figures but as leaders close to both political decision-makers and the people affected by those decisions. “We are not defined by protocol; we are empowered by proximity,” she said. “We must use our positions to influence, advocate, and build bridges across borders.”

H.E. Fatima Bio called for stronger cooperation among First Ladies across the globe, especially in addressing shared challenges like maternal mortality, gender-based violence, food insecurity, and girls’ education. She stressed that regional and global networks are not just helpful they are essential to meaningful and lasting change. “When First Ladies collaborate, we don’t just raise awareness we raise standards, shift policies, and change lives,” she noted.

Highlighting examples from across Africa and other regions, she encouraged sharing of knowledge and successful practices, such as Sierra Leone’s Hands Off Our Girls initiative and Namibia’s gender-based programs. She also advocated for the adoption of global best practices that can be tailored and implemented at local levels. Showcasing Africa’s growing momentum, she urged attendees to ensure that African and other underserved communities’ voices are heard at the global level, while also bringing home tested global strategies for local action. We are not just symbols of solidarity, we are engines of transformation,” she declared.

The OAFLAD President proposed stronger communication platforms, shared data systems, inclusive governance, and sustainable support to empower First Ladies as agents of real change, maintaining that the time for symbolic partnerships is over. “We must now commit to strategic collaboration, measurable progress, and mutual accountability.” In closing, Her Excellency reminded all present that First Ladies today play far greater roles, saying, “We are not just First Ladies, we are First Advocates, First Responders, and First Partners in the fight for dignity, justice, and equity.