-As She Proposes Women’s Bank for ECOWAS
By Jerromie S. Walters
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Former Vice President of Liberia, Jewel Howard Taylor, has been named among Africa’s 50 Most Influential Women, an honor she accepted with a stirring call for practical financial empowerment, including the establishment of a dedicated Women’s Bank across the ECOWAS region.
The recognition came during the 2026 African Women Leadership Conference in Freetown, held under the theme “Redefining Leadership: Women Shaping Africa’s Future.” Taylor was celebrated not only for her political legacy but for decades of advocacy, resilience, and mentorship across the continent.
Delivering her goodwill message at the induction ceremony on April 20, 2026, Taylor stood before a room of heads of state, honorees, and advocates—and turned the spotlight away from herself and toward the struggles and aspirations of everyday African women.
“Today is not just another ceremony for me. It is a deeply reflective moment,” Taylor said. “As I stand here, I cannot help but think about the journey—my own journey, and the journeys of so many women across our continent. Journeys marked by sacrifice, resilience, and an unyielding determination to rise, even when the odds were not in our favor.”
Madam Taylor opened her remarks with heartfelt gratitude to host President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who also serves as Chair of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments. “From the moment I arrived, I have felt not like a visitor, but like a sister at home—and for that, I am deeply grateful,” she said, praising President Bio for demonstrating through action that empowering women “is not rhetoric, it is responsibility.”
She added: “Your commitment to inclusion and to advancing women in leadership sends a strong message across Africa: that when women rise, nations rise.” Looking across the gathering of honorees, Taylor reframed what it means to be “influential.” “I do not just see ‘influential women.’ I see stories. I see courage. I see women who refused to be defined by limitations, and instead chose to define their own paths,” she said.
Being counted among the nominees, she admitted, humbles her deeply—not as a personal trophy, but as a representation of “every challenge faced, every barrier confronted, every moment where giving up might have been easier… but we chose to press forward.” In one of the most memorable passages of her speech, Taylor offered a definition of strength that resonated across the conference hall:
“Strength is not the absence of struggle. It is the decision to keep going despite it.” She directed her words directly to young women and girls: “Dare to dream—even when no one else sees your vision. Work with purpose. Stay focused. And never, ever give up on yourself.” To fellow honorees, she issued a challenge: “Let us remember that this recognition is not a destination—it is a responsibility. A responsibility to lift others as we rise, to open doors that were once closed to us, and to ensure that the path becomes easier for those who come after us.”
Taylor then pivoted to what she called a practical solution for women’s advancement: the establishment of a Women’s Bank. “In the past few days, I have heard discussions about the establishment of a Women’s Bank. And I must say—this is not just an idea whose time has come; it is a necessity,” she declared. She identified access to finance as one of the greatest barriers facing African women. “Across our continent, one of the greatest barriers women face is not talent, not vision, not capability—it is access to finance. And without financial empowerment, true inclusion remains incomplete.”
Madam Taylor made a direct appeal to President Bio: “I therefore respectfully and earnestly appeal to you, Mr. President, to champion this vision—beginning here in Sierra Leone, and extending across the ECOWAS region. The establishment of a Women’s Bank will not only empower women economically, it will transform families, strengthen communities, and accelerate national development.” She called such a legacy one “that endures” and leadership “that changes history.”
The 2026 African Women Leadership Conference featured a high-powered panel discussion titled “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: African Women Redefining Leadership,” moderated to explore pathways for women in politics, business, traditional leadership, and civil society. Panelists included: Hon. Rosemarie Bangura – Member of Parliament, Sierra Leone, H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza – Former President of the Central African Republic, H.E. Jewel Howard Taylor – Former Vice President of Liberia (honoree), and Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis – Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Leone.
Others were Madam Musayeh Barrie – Director General, Sidrana Lion Club, Aviation Authority, PC Madam Salay Satta Gendemeh – Paramount Chief, Male Section of the National Association of Women in Africa, Mrs. Olive Favor Baimba – Philanthropist and Entrepreneur in Human and Health Services, and Fiona Ngima – President, National Union of Sierra Leone Students. Discussions centered on moving beyond symbolic representation toward structural change—including financial inclusion, legal reforms, and youth mentorship.
Madam Taylor closed her address with a benediction of unity and perseverance. “In closing, I celebrate each and every woman being honored today. Your journeys matter. Your voices matter. Your impact matters,” she said. She thanked the organizers “for creating a platform that tells our stories, honors our work, and inspires the next generation of African women leaders.”
The annual African Women Leadership Conference brings together sitting and former heads of state, government officials, civil society leaders, entrepreneurs, and young advocates to advance the role of women in shaping the continent’s future. The 2026 edition in Freetown was held under the theme “Redefining Leadership: Women Shaping Africa’s Future.”
