Fatima Maada Bio, receives AEMA Black Prize for global advocacy at AEGC 2025 Summit in New York

Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, was honoured with the prestigious AEMA Black Prize during the recently concluded African Economic Global Convergence (AEGC) 2025 Summit held on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly at The Yale Club of New York City.

The award recognised her outstanding advocacy for gender equity, girl-child education, and national transformation, as well as her global leadership in protecting women and children’s rights.

Through her “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, H.E. Dr. Bio has set a new standard across Africa in policy influence, survivor support systems, and awareness creation at both local and international levels.

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Presenting the award, the AEGC Board commended her for redefining the role of First Ladies as active change-makers and champions of justice. Her work, which blends civic courage with cultural dignity, has gained widespread recognition from the United Nations, ECOWAS, and other global platforms.

This recognition not only cements her place as a humanitarian powerhouse but also amplifies Sierra Leone’s growing diplomatic and socio-economic leadership across Africa.

The AEMA Black Prize is awarded to distinguished individuals of African descent who have made global contributions to justice, leadership, enterprise, education, and cultural advancement. It is one of the highest civilian honours bestowed at the African Economic Global Convergence Summit.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.