By Vaye Lepolu
Monrovia, Liberia – The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development has announced that construction will soon commence on the African Women’s House, a first-of-its-kind presidential center dedicated to advancing women’s leadership across the continent.
The announcement was made during a media briefing held ahead of the Center’s Women’s Leadership Council meeting, where senior leadership outlined plans for the ambitious project and its significance for Liberia and Africa. Speaking at the event, Executive Director Ellen O. Pratt described the center as a transformational step toward ensuring that women’s leadership is no longer the exception but the norm.
“This center represents a bold vision,” Pratt said. “It is about creating a space where African women can gather, lead, and shape the future of our continent.”
Founded by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the EJS Center continues to build on her legacy as Africa’s first democratically elected female president by investing in the next generation of women leaders. The African Women’s House, to be constructed in Monrovia, will serve as a center of excellence and is expected to become the first presidential center in the world established by a woman president.
The facility will include a presidential library, archives, exhibition spaces, and conference and training facilities. Director of Programs Madonna Kendona highlighted the broader vision behind the project, noting that it will provide a dedicated space on the continent for African women to convene and collaborate. “For too long, African leaders have had to look outside the continent for spaces to gather,” Kendona said.
“This center will ensure that Africa has its own home for dialogue, learning, and leadership development.”
Designed by leading African female architects, the campus will consist of nine interconnected structures inspired by traditional African village architecture and built using local materials. The design aims to foster collaboration, reflection, and innovation among women leaders. Chief Operating Officer Jenelle Sirleaf also emphasized the importance of preserving Liberia’s history as part of the project.
She noted ongoing efforts to digitize presidential and national records in partnership with government institutions, ensuring that the country’s leadership legacy is accessible for future generations.
The construction of the African Women’s House comes at a time when gender disparities in leadership remain significant. According to the Center’s data, women currently hold just 11 percent of seats in Liberia’s House of Representatives and 10 percent in the Senate.
Through initiatives such as the Amujae Initiative and the upcoming Women’s Leadership Council, the EJS Center aims to address these gaps by equipping women with the tools, networks, and visibility needed to rise to positions of influence. As construction prepares to get underway, the Center is calling on the media and the public to play an active role in amplifying the initiative and supporting the broader movement for women’s leadership.
“This is not just about one building,” Pratt emphasized. “It is about building a future where women lead at every level of society.” The African Women’s House is expected to position Liberia as a continental hub for women’s leadership, reinforcing its historic role in advancing gender equality in Africa.
