Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reacts after her massive statue is unveiled by Governor Okorocha

macfranc007 November 11, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Eromosele Ebhomele

- Mrs Ellen John-Sirleaf, president of Liberia, is very happy with Governor Rochas Okorocha for erecting her statue in Imo state

- Johnson-Sirleaf says the statue will help as motivation for young girls and women

- She also urged women in Africa not to remain disadvantaged in the scheme of progress

Liberian president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has said her statue erected in Imo state would help to inspire young girls and women to work towards reaching their potentials.

The Nation reports that the president said this while she delivered a lecture on Women in Politics at the International Convention Centre Owerri, the capital of Imo state, where the statue was unveiled.

According to her, Africa as a continent has some good reasons to celebrate.

“We can achieve our dreams. We can stand tall among the many women of the world in providing the kind of exemplary leadership that will lift us up to stand, as I stand representing women,” Sirleaf said.

“Women in Africa are still behind in politics due to social, cultural, economic and political constraints that limit their political participation.

“And the women in Africa have to do much more to get the equality that we all seek”.

“Quality education changes the attitude and mindset of people. And equality means better performance, and also means better life for everyone. Hence, we need to put more emphasis on education to enhance performance.

“And that is why what the Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha is doing with his foundation should be encouraged.

“In our political parties we need to put more emphasis on recruiting female candidates including in and outside politics.

“Our governments need to do more to putting female in up and down the hierarchy.

“We need to ensure that we as women take the advantages that we have and develop a strategy to deal with the disadvantages we face,” she added stressing that her election as the first woman to be democratically elected president in Africa was a strong signal to all the women and girls in the continent.

The statue stands next to the N520 million bronze-cast monument of South African president, Jacob Zuma.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, who unveiled the statue, commended Sirleaf for making Africa proud and a source of inspiration.

NAIJ.com earlier reported how the Imo state council of traditional rulers, on Thursday, November 9, honoured Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with a chieftaincy title of ADA DI OHA NMA.

The chairman of the council, Eze Samuel Ohiri, who presided over the colourful ceremony at the Eze Imo palace, said the decision to confer the title on the visiting president was in consideration her outstanding contributions to the restoration of peace in her country and the African sub-region.

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