UNITED STATES / FREETOWN — With deep sorrow, Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad are mourning the passing of Dr. Kadie Sesay, one of the nation’s most respected scholars, political pioneers, and advocates for women’s empowerment. She passed away in the United States, according to sources close to the family.
Dr. Sesay was 75, Her death marks the end of an era — one defined by courage, intellect, and unwavering commitment to public service. From the lecture halls of Fourah Bay College, where she inspired generations of students, to the highest levels of government, Dr. Kadie Sesay embodied integrity and purpose.
A Scholar, A Leader, A Trailblazer
Born in the Lokomasama Chiefdom in Port Loko District, Dr. Kadie Sesay rose from modest beginnings to become one of Sierra Leone’s most formidable voices. She served as a lecturer in English Language at Fourah Bay College in the early 1990s, where many remember her as a brilliant educator with a sharp mind and a compassionate heart.
“She wasn’t just a teacher — she was a mentor,” recalls one former student. “She taught us how to think, how to lead, and how to serve.”
Dr. Sesay went on to become the first woman to run for Vice President in Sierra Leone, when she stood as running mate to His Excellency Julius Maada Bio in the 2012 elections under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Her candidacy was more than political — it was symbolic of progress and possibility for women across the nation.
Throughout her career, she held several senior roles in government, including Minister of Development and Economic Planning and Chair of the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA). She championed women’s rights, education, and national unity with quiet strength and unshakable conviction.
A Nation Grieves
The news of Dr. Sesay’s passing has sent shockwaves through the SLPP family, civil society, academia, and the Sierra Leonean diaspora.
President Julius Maada Bio, who campaigned alongside her in 2012, is expected to issue a formal statement honoring her life and legacy.
“This is a profound loss — not only for the people of Lokomasama, not only for the SLPP, but for all of Sierra Leone,” said one SLPP official. “Dr. Kadie Sesay was the conscience of our politics, the voice of our mothers and daughters.”
A Family in Mourning
She is survived by her children, including Aisha Sesay, the internationally renowned journalist and humanitarian, and Mamud Sesay, as well as a wide circle of family and loved ones.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Aisha, Mamud, and the entire Sesay family in this moment of sorrow,” said a family friend. “May Allah SWT grant Dr. Kadie eternal peace and light in the hereafter.”
Legacy of Hope
As tributes pour in from around the world, Dr. Kadie Sesay will be remembered not only for the offices she held but for the doors she opened.
Her life was a testament to what it means to serve — to teach, to lead, and to inspire.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course. In the meantime, books of condolence are expected to open in Freetown and Port Loko, as well as at Sierra Leone’s embassies abroad.
May her memory be a blessing. May her legacy live on.