MEET ARIANA
1st–2nd July 2025 is now permanently etched into my professional and personal memory. The 4th NALAFEM Summit, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone under the bold theme “From Representation to Power: Women Leading in Crisis and Peace”, was not just an event, I can boldly attest that it was a movement in motion.
Hosted at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown and convened by Nalafem Founder & President Aya Chebbi, hosted by The Mayor of Freetown – Yvonne Aki – Sawyerr; the summit broke away from the repetitive talk-shop format. Instead, it offered realistic frameworks, intergenerational dialogue, and strategy rooms for co-creation.
As someone who has grown weary of performative gender equality dialogues, I say this with full confidence: NALAFEM 2025 was different. It was solution-oriented, unapologetically feminist, and emotionally intelligent space. The Call to women leaders, supporters and allies is to promote, Leadership Rooted in Truth.
In a powerful opening address at the 4th NALAFEM Summit held in Freetown, Founder and President Aya Chebbi reflected on the remarkable evolution of the movement and the unwavering resilience of women leading through adversity.
“Today, we celebrate four years of building bridges; across movements, generations, and borders,” she shared. “From 17 women forming our first council to 100 shaping our strategy. From 10 grassroots organizations in the NALAFEM Academy to over 50,000 feminists and member organizations united under one vision.”
The summit, brought together a cross-section of African feminist leaders committed to rewriting the rules of leadership.
Aya paid tribute to the often unseen realities that shape women’s leadership journeys, that can be complex, deeply personal, and full of courage.
“The journey of a woman is not linear. We lead through pregnancies, periods, menopause, and grief. We lead through physical pain and emotional labour and still, we rise.”
As NALAFEM marks this milestone, Freetown becomes not just a host city, but a symbol of what is possible when feminist power, purpose, and solidarity converge.
Taking the stage at the NALAFEM Summit 2025 in Freetown, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr delivered a deeply personal and powerful keynote, reflecting on her political journey marked by resilience, service, and faith.
She revisited her pivotal role during Sierra Leone’s Ebola crisis, a moment that ignited her unwavering commitment to public service. As Mayor of Freetown, she shared how her vision has translated into transformative policies that are improving lives and reshaping the city’s future.
But her path, she reminded the audience, has not been without challenges.
“There have been moments of harassment, intimidation, and pressure to back down. But I have stayed focused, anchored by prayer, and lifted by the support systems and strong networks around me.”
Now, as she steps into a new chapter of her political journey;seeking the nation’s highest office: Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that her ambition is rooted not in personal gain, but in a deep conviction that true power comes from God.
Her message to the women in the room was clear: Leadership is not just about position: it is about purpose, perseverance, and faith.
“Power is not applause. Power is service. Power is purpose.”
— Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia
Day Two opened with a keynote that set the tone for truth and responsibility. Madam Sirleaf, the first elected female President in Africa, did not glamorize leadership. Instead, she narrated hard truths; like authorizing cremations during the Ebola crisis in Liberia, a decision that went against cultural norms but saved countless lives. Her honesty reminded us: Leadership isn’t about being liked; it is about doing what is necessary. “When I was elected, I didn’t think I was getting power… I was getting responsibility.”
I admired how this summit was not about celebrating titles. It was about examining the weight of leadership and the courage to act, even in moral gray zones.
Uncomfortable Truths and Justice Reimagined
One of the most powerful moments came during a panel session in day one: “From the Margins to Leadership: Survivors Confront Systems of Power”. Alpha Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Attorney General, posed a provocative question: “The justice we seek; is it the justice survivors want?”
It struck a nerve. How often do well-meaning frameworks fail because they’re designed in boardrooms, far from the lived realities of survivors?
Other panelists like Nimco Ali OBE and Dr. Hind Abouzahir emphasized that bodily autonomy, reproductive health, and trauma-informed justice must be central to feminist governance.
I was moved by this statement :“When our pockets are full, our bodies are protected.”
— Nimco Ali OBE
The economics of safety for women was laid bare: we cannot separate financial independence from bodily security.
From Symbolism to Strategy
Another Session that struck a chord, “A New Intergenerational Pact: Shaking the Old House”, voices like Senator Crystal Asige (Kenya) and Fatmata Sheriff (Sierra Leone) challenged us to go beyond the symbolism of women’s inclusion:
“If service is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you.”
— Sen. Crystal Asige
“Lead boldly and make mistakes safely.”
— Dalree De Lange, Graça Machel Trust
Young leaders reminded us that perfection is notthe goal. Bold, values-driven, collaborative leadership is. This is where change is born; not just through representation, but by reshaping systems from the inside out.
Breaking Taboos: Leadership and Menopause
One of the most revolutionary elements of the summit was the Learning Circle on Menopause titled “Reclaiming Menopause as Power, Wisdom & Wholeness.” Moderated by Rose Wachuka Macharia, Nalafem Board Chair and Chief of Staff to Kenya’s Chief Justice, the session allowed women leaders to speak openly about hormonal health, career impacts, and biological transitions.
I utilised the opportunity to share my story and Fatou Wurie’s new health resource platform focused on uterine health, addressing a long-ignored reality for women in leadership – uterine health. https://www.youterushealth.org/
Spotlight Moments: Inspiration in Action
Stella Bangura, TV host and moderator of the keynote session with Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, delivered with commanding grace. She did not just take the stage.she owned it.
The I AM NALA Spotlights gave voice to emerging leaders like Amen Biniyam, Jugu Maureen Lawson, and Lala Sidibe: reminding us that feminist leadership is already rising in the grassroots.
The NALAFEM Awards Gala was a celebration of real impact. Samesther Hannah Kargbo’s award for feminist advocacy was a full-circle moment (Years ago on this very platform, we wrote about her journey with GADNET: now we all watched her legacy unfold on stage. It was powerfully affirming.) among other awardees like the 2025 Nalafem Award for Advancing Intergenerational co-leadership given to Winnie Kiiza and other awards to the Mayor of Freetown, Nimco Ali,OBE and Sen. Crystal Asige.
Sisterhood Beyond Borders
The real magic happened between sessions: the cross-continental conversations over coffee, the mentorship offered in hallways, the solidarity shared in laughter and tears.
The summit gave an incredible opportunity to spend more time with and learn from incredible women like: Maryam Dawich, Maryann Kaikai, Fatima Sesay, Saramba Kandeh, Naasu Fofanah, Fatim Forster, Ajara Marie Bomah, Agatha Sesay, Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim, Fredline M’Cormack-Hale, Yasmine Bilkis Ibrahim, Ebun James, Lesego Otlhabanye, Amisa Nivishe, Sen. Camila Banda, and many other brilliant and powerful women.
I was equally thrilled to see young leaders: Esther Tholley, Adama Finda Borway, Marina Terry(to name but a few); your presence lit up every space you entered.
The Summit closed with the signing of the Freetown Declaration and a keynote by Justice Glenna Thompson. The final message was clear: This is not the end: it is the beginning of a new feminist era. “Every woman should lead and learn. It is a continuous process.”
NALAFEM 2025 was more than a gathering. It was a strategic feminist intervention, a reminder that African women are not waiting to be included. We are building the tables, setting the agenda, and shaping the future.
If you are a policymaker, entrepreneur, educator, or dreamer reading this:
Power is not a destination. It is a tool. Use it wisely. Use it well. Let us lead boldly. Serve intentionally. And make space for others to rise.
Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece. Quotes are attributed to speakers as cited during the NALAFEM Summit 2025.
