SLEFPAC and Orange Sierra Leone Celebrate Women’s Leadership and Gender Equality

The Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus (SLEFPAC), in collaboration with Orange Sierra Leone, observed the Orange Day Celebration and officially launched its Strategic Plan on March 13, 2025, at the Parliament Building in Freetown. The event, held in celebration of International Women’s Day, was centered around the theme, “Accelerating Action: Strengthening Women’s Leadership and Civic Engagement for Inclusive Governance.”

A key segment of the event was the Development Partner’s Conversation, which focused on the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, 2022. Priscilla Okechuwu, Orange Sierra Leone’s Head of Sales for Business to Business (B2B) and Orange Women’s President, shared the company’s progress in meeting the Act’s requirements.

“Orange understands the importance of supporting women. We are proud to have exceeded the 30% female workforce quota mandated by the GEWE Act, with women now representing 33% of our staff,” Okechuwu said. She also highlighted the company’s commitment to gender inclusivity within leadership roles. “Six out of our 14 Directors are women, accounting for 40% of our senior management team. We are working towards achieving a 50/50 gender balance in decision-making roles,” she added. Okechuwu further pointed out that Orange Sierra Leone’s Group CEO is a woman, underscoring the company’s commitment to promoting female leadership at all levels.

The company’s efforts extend beyond the workplace. Through its Orange Foundation, Orange Sierra Leone has established the Orange Digital Centre (ODC), a key initiative to empower women and girls with digital skills and entrepreneurship training. Additionally, the company provides both local and international training opportunities for female staff and offers soft loans to employees, irrespective of gender.

In her remarks, SLEFPAC Vice President, Hon. Rosemarie Bangura, lauded Orange Sierra Leone for its unwavering support for women’s empowerment and gender equality. “Orange has been an essential partner in advancing our mission to promote gender equality. Today’s celebration is not just ceremonial; it’s a call to action. While we’ve made progress in advocating for women’s rights, much more work remains,” she emphasized.

Hon. Bangura also highlighted the importance of laws such as the GEWE Act in ensuring women’s representation in governance. She referenced key legislative advances, including the Child Marriage Act, the Sexual Offenses Act, and the amended Customary Land Rights Act, which reinforce women’s rights and inclusion in national development.

British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. Josephine Gauld, also attended the event and underscored the global importance of gender equality. “Gender inequalities persist worldwide, hindering social progress and economic development. Women remain underrepresented in political leadership, but Sierra Leone is making notable strides in increasing female representation in Parliament and at all levels of leadership,” Gauld remarked. She reiterated the British High Commission’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts toward gender equality, highlighting initiatives focused on education, reproductive health, reducing maternal mortality, and empowering women economically.

Orange Sierra Leone continues to play a key role in advancing women’s empowerment, reflecting its ongoing commitment to gender inclusion and equality. As the company’s slogan affirms, Orange is Here! Orange de ya!