The New Secretary General of the Mano River Union (MRU) Ambassador Maria G. Harrison has paid a courtesy call on the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio at her Office in Freetown.
Amb. Harrison expressed appreciation to the First Lady for her outstanding work over the years in advocating for girls not only in Sierra Leone but in Africa as a whole.
Explaining about the Union, the Secretary General stated that Mano River Union (MRU) is an intergovernmental organization with a Secretariat based in Freetown, Sierra Leone and that it was established in October 1973 by the Presidents of Liberia and Sierra Leone, taking its name from a river that runs along the border between the two countries. The MRU, she went on, was formed as a Customs Union, to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural advancement through trade promotion among the three member states. Over time, this mandate has been expanded to include agriculture, communications, natural resources, education, social services, industry, transport, monetary matters and security cooperation.
She informed the First Lady that as the new Secretary General of the Union she would be happy to be working in partnership with the Office of the First Lady in areas of mutual interest.
The MRU Secretary General outlined some of the activities the Secretariat has been doing in the sub-region over the years. She emphasized on activities that have to do with women and girls’ empowerment, protection and care in the sub-region.
However, she maintained that her priority is to promote peace within the sub-region and work to improve regional integration in the sub-region through infrastructural development in the areas of Agriculture, Energy, Information and Technology, Health and Education.
Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio welcomed the Secretary General of MRU to her office and congratulated her on her appointment.
The First Lady welcomed the idea of the Secretary General to work in partnership with her office in areas of interest, but cautioned that, she is a result-oriented First Lady, and that whatever she puts her hands on, she wants to see results.
“I don’t start projects and stop halfway,” she said, adding that it would be nice for them to be holding meetings as it will enable them to brainstorm.
She assured the Secretary General of her commitment to work with the secretariat and appealed to them to keep her abreast on issues they think would need her involvement.
Strategic Communications Division
Office of The First Lady.
info@officeofthefirstlady.gov.sl
