President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has reiterated her government's commitment to education. Government's emphasis, she noted, is on girls because they are more deprived than boys.

The President spoke recently at the Monrovia City Hall, where she participated in the launching of the 1st Peace Girls Leadership Dialogue of the Women Peace and Security Network in Africa (WIPSEN).

The project, which is implemented by the Ministry of Gender and Development and WIPSEN, aims to strengthen young girls' leadership capacity. It was held under the theme "UNSCR 1325: Tool For Advancing Young Girls Leadership.'

She stressed that it is her own commitment to education in Liberia which led to the establishment of the Liberia Education Trust (LET), a program which aims to build 50 schools, train 500 teachers and provide 5000 scholarships for girls over a 3-year period.

President Johnson Sirleaf spoke of the need for strong leaders across every facet of society and challenged the participants to use the opportunity afforded them. The President further called on participants to task the Government to see how it can be of help.

For her part, the Executive Director of WIPSEN, Madam Leema Gbowee, said the project shares similar programs with the International Colloquim on Women. She said the group is focused on women and regularly reports on their status, adding that the well-being of young girls is critical to women's empowerment.

Madam Gbowee added that 10 mentors have been trained under the program to guide participants. She further emphasized that three leadership dialogues are scheduled to begin in Montserrado, Bong and Grand Bassa counties, with further plans to expand the program to three other counties over the next three years.

The launching of the 1st Peace Girls Leadership Dialogue of WIPSEN also brought together Gender and Development Minister Varbah Gayflor and officials of the Ministry, civil society groups, students and the media.

President Johnson-Sirleaf Signs Bills into Law

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has signed into law 'An act ratifying the production sharing contract with addenda for offshore Liberia Blocks LB-8 and 9 signed between the Republic of Liberia represented by the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), REGAL Liberia Limited and European Hydrocarbons Limited' at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Liberian leader also signed into law 'An act ratifying the production sharing contract with Addendum for offshore Liberia Block LB-15 signed between the Republic of Liberia represented by the National Company of Liberia (NOCAL) and Woodside West Africa Limited' and 'An act ratifying the production sharing contract with addenda for offshore Liberia blocks LB-16 and 17 signed between the Republic of Liberia represented by the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) and REPSOL Exploracion S.A.'

Also signed into law was an 'Act ratifying the concession agreement between the Republic of Liberia and A.D.A. Commercial Inc'.

The A.D.A Commercial Inc. agreement, which is worth US$30 million dollars, will be invested in Lofa and Nimba counties.

The government of Liberia's goal is to produce 75,000 metric tons of rice in about five years, which will be a third of the amount currently imported.

This will yield substantial foreign exchange earnings into the country and is one of many ways of ensuring that food is made available. Additionally, the government of Liberia will ensure that food assistance be made available to vulnerable populations and that there will be a consistent supply of rice on the market.

The government, through its agreemnent with A.D.A., will also ensure that assistance be given to farmers to enable them to grow more food.

Those present at the signing ceremony were Vice President, Joseph Boakai; Senator Daniel Naatehn; Montserrado County Representative Kettehkumehn Murray; and Nimba County Representative Nohn Kidau.

Also present were Agriculture Minister, Dr. Chris Toe; and Minister of State for Legal and Economic Affairs, Morris Saytumah.