MONROVIA – Most people-centered national leaders often struggle to leave behind lasting legacies, investing issues that matter to them personally. For Liberia’s first democratically elected president, the struggle is about the protection of women and girls in a patriarchal society with harsh tradition and mores that largely disfavor females. And the vehicle of the Liberian Iron Lady’s heartfelt legacy-laden interest is her Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Center, which clocks 5 years. As The Analyst reports, a horde VIPs are will be converging on Monrovia to celebrate the former president’s heartstring.
To celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the EJS Center, world leaders, Amujae members including leaders and mentors, and foreign guests from the continent and overseas have started converging on the Liberian capital to participate in this auspicious occasion.
Speaking exclusively with The Analyst on Wednesday, former President Sirleaf said the EJS Center 5th Anniversary celebration will be held under the theme: “Journey to #GapZero in Women’s Public Leadership,” which will be a reflection on both the progress the organization has made and the work that remains.
A key component of the program will be the introduction of the Musiehjah – The African Women’s House, a bold new initiative that will serve as a hub for African women leaders. It will be a space for mentorship, collaboration, and innovation p a testament to our unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of trailblazers.
Explaining more about the EJS Center program and the 5th Anniversary, former President Sirleaf said the Center has gained renowned for the Amujae Initiative that brought together Amujae leaders and mentors from different countries around the world to groom women into leadership.
“We launched the Center March 8, 2020. That is why March 8, 2025 is five years. That’s five years ago and we started all this Amujae. The Amujae in Kru is ‘We are going up’.
“We have 42 women in 19 countries who are Amujae leaders, then we have mentors. The mentors are former Presidents like myself, the President of Malawi, and others.
“One of the people who was on my first Board was Nikozi, also our own lady Antoinette Sayeh. Antoinette will be here.
“Our programs we have are running five years, but one of our major things is we have advocated for the women of Amujae for five years, giving them support for ascendency to the highest positions in public service in their different countries. That is the whole purpose of it.
“The other major thing we want is to have a structure in Liberia. It is our way to say thank you to the Liberian women for voting for me, and to put something in Liberia that is international, a place that will draw international clout because the women will use that for their meetings.
“So, we want to have a place so when they want to have meetings, they can meet here, if we want to train them we can do it here. This will be for legacy that will be remembered in Liberia.
“The Presidential Center is an organization that is formative, that is designed, that is organized to support women in Africa who have already achieved, they are already leaders in their countries. Our support is to work with them, expose them, give them opportunities.
“The Mayor of Freetown will be here, she is a Amujae leader. And one of the persons coming in new is Charlyn Brumskine. They just approved her to be a leader.
“The program is a three-day program, but the major event is Friday which will be followed by speeches. Saturday is the main day where the President of Liberia will grace the occasion,” former President Sirleaf disclosed.
According to the calendar of events for Saturday’s main program, guests will arrive at the EJS Center from 3:30p.m. – 4:00 pm, during which they will explore the EJS Center Walkway Exhibition, highlighting the Center’s milestone’s, projects, and initiatives over the past five years.
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirelaf will then give welcome remarks from 4:00p.m. to 4:05 p.m., followed by five minutes of video interlude highlighting the EJS Center’s Journey: a visual presentation showcasing the Center’s transformative work and achievements.
Remarks from former and current heads of state will be led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, followed by former President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. The sitting President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, will close the presidential remarks.
The program will also entail an overview of the African Women’s House (AWH), emphasizing its vision and significance in promoting women’s empowerment across the continent.
Reflecting on the EJS Center’s journey and its impact, special remarks are expected to the proffered by the Mrs. Monica Geingos, Board Chair, EJS Center; Ms. Bineta Diop, Special Envoy, African Union Commission, and Ms. Nathanie Delapalme, CEO, Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
Providing reflections on the Center’s programs and future plans will be Ms. Jenelle Sirleaf, Interim COO, EJS Center; as well as remarks from a Harvard University Representative, and Ms. Farida Bedwei, Amujae Leader.
The program will be climaxed with the short documentary screening, followed by closing remarks and vote of thanks.
About the EJS Center
In championing women’s ascension to the highest levels of leadership, the EJS Center continues to directly challenge systemic barriers to girls’ and women’s advancement for the betterment of all, with a vision for more voices heard; more talents unleashed, and more leaders launched that prioritize women’s aspirations.
The EJS Center uses a three-strand interwoven approach to address the challenge of gender inequality: leadership development; research and communications and archives.
The flagship program of the EJS Center, the Amujae Initiative’s objective is to inspire and prepare women to unapologetically take up roles and excel in the highest echelons of public leadership, and to bring other women along. ‘Amujae’, pronounced ӓ mōō jāēē, means ‘we are going up’ in Kru, a Liberian language.
Launched on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2020, the vision for the Amujae Initiative is to shift the landscape for women in public leadership in Africa, moving from a culture of tokenism to one that truly values women leaders.
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