VP Boakai launches women radio project

V.P. Boakai flanked by distinguished personalities, including U.S. Amb. Deborah Malac
The Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, has launched a women radio project at the Monrovia City Hall, with a reminder that women have a major role to play in the society.

According to the Vice President, the radio project will help young women and girls to understand how to live and work together in society with their male counterparts, adding that the Government will support the effort of the women’s talk show.

Dr. Margaret Kilo, Country Representative of the African Development Bank, said the Women’s Radio project is a live talk show that will be aired every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and repeated every Saturday from 3PM to 4PM on the state-owned Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) and relayed on 15 community radio stations around the country.

She noted that the talk show will highlight sexual and gender base violence, adding that it is important for women to contribute to the society as they have the same aspirations like men in Politics, Engineering, Banking and other professions.

Dr. Kilo said men are better off when women utilize their efforts in development rather the sexually abusing them. She said women can be helped through the radio program and also women farmers around the country will be taught how to sell their commodities as well as receive education on how to save their money also.

The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac, said there is need to stop sexual abuse against women to enable them pursue their dreams.
The U.S. Envoy encouraged everyone to spread the message of the talk show so women can participate and have their lives improved.

Also speaking, Sweden Ambassador Lena Nordstrom, said it is time for women of Liberia to talk. She said the radio talk show will help them learn new things and teach others saying, “Women and men should have equal power as well as equal economic benefits and also contribution at home.”

The Chairperson of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor of Bong County,challenged women in the media to go around the country to know the issues confronting women in order to highlight them.

The project seeks to facilitate understanding, dialogue and knowledge sharing through women friendly radio programmes for women and girls across Liberia.

By Ethel A. Tweh-Edited by Jonathan Browne