Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has lauded the Associations of Liberian Women who produced quilts for national and international use – urging them to work together and be strong in lifting Liberia.
“Let me commend you for what you have been doing and encouraged them to stay together and be strong in promoting Liberia,” President Sirleaf noted.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the statement on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at her Foreign Ministry office in Monrovia when she received in audience over 23 female quilters from different communities in Monrovia and parts adjacent including the Robertsfield Highway, Somalia Drive, Stephen Tolbert Estate, Caldwell, Barnesville, among others.
At a forum aimed at promoting Liberian women in business; President Sirleaf urged them to organize themselves and also form a working group from each association to assess a site at the Jorkpen Town market on the 5thd Street, Sinkor designated for the women with a view to enhancing their skills and talents in order to enlarge their businesses.
President Sirleaf used the occasion to inform the women about efforts being made to also secure the Industrial Park where some of the women will showcase their quilts and move it to another level like the Kente clothe in Ghana.
She pledged her continued support and thanked them for their contribution to Liberia including keeping the peace Liberia now enjoys adding: “When I saw you doing the quilts, I decided to use it for national and international gift,” she emphasized.
In separate remarks, the heads of different groups including Alice Daniels, Bennetta Flammah, Mande Davis and Batties Page commended President Sirleaf for recognizing the efforts of the women by showing interest in promoting and enhancing their skills, which they terms as a welcomed development.
Speaking further, the women appeal to President Sirleaf for additional support in promoting quilts both nationally and internationally especially by securing a place for them to operate their businesses, where they will freely produce their quilts.