How can I not gush over the first woman in all of Africa, to be the leader of a country? Even the United States of America has been unable to achieve such a feat after almost three hundred years of independence and inspite of touting herself as the freest country in the world. Not mocking her. Just giving a seven gun salute to Mama Sirleaf as we fondly call her and certainly respectful towards Liberia for achieving what Nigeria has been unable to do. Even having a mixed cabinet of equal number of male and female has eluded her. Again not mocking her. Just eulogizing Liberia.

Mama Sirleaf now eighty-four years old has many awards over the years. From the prestigious Nobel Peace prize to local awards that reflect her effective leading abilities.

She is the first ever female chair of the Economic Community of West African States. A first of many firsts.

Mama Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was married at seventeen after secondary school, a mother of four sons; three biological and one adopted, a graduate of Madison Business School and Harvard University at twenty -eight, deputy Minister of Finance at thirty-three , an outspoken opposition to the military oppressors at forty-seven. (The opposition fetched her a ten -year prison sentence, by the way.)

We are so proud of you our beloved Mama Sirleaf. You are an inspiration to many women and girls all over the world. We are so proud of you.

Thank you for making such a huge difference in our lives in this millennium.