The first female president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, can add Nobel laureate to her list of achievements. She along with activist Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and rights activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen, share the coveted honor awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
In a statement to the press, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority extended congratulations to Sirleaf, a member of the sorority. Alpha Kappa Alpha’s international president, Carolyn House Stewart, declared that the honor underscores Johnson Sirleaf’s success in championing women’s rights and human rights.
“Liberia was ravaged by war, women were being suppressed and the economic outlook was bleak when she became president. However, with a capacity to lead, a reservoir of hope and an unmatched love for her native Liberia, she set to restore peace and liberate women,” Stewart said.
“Key to her success,” added Stewart, “was her indomitable faith in Liberia and its people. That devotion resulted in her instituting a series of reforms and putting the country on a path toward vitality. The ultimate show of support for her efforts is the climactic presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha, noted Stewart, has been a strong ally of Johnson Sirleaf. During its international conference in St. Louis in 2010, the sorority personally presented her with a $500,000 donation that was targeted toward the construction of a marketplace where women could earn a living. By regaining their capacity to support their families after losing their husbands to years of war and strife, the marketplace provides them with a source of economic hope, empowerment and inspiration.
Stewart said that Johnson Sirleaf ‘s commitment to service mirrors Alpha Kappa Alpha’s mission, which is “service to all mankind.”
“Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s passion for service represents the underpinnings upon which Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded 103 years ago,” declared Stewart. “We are so proud that her devotion to these ideals has led to her receiving this highest of high honors.”
Stewart added that the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize was the late Wangari Maathai, who was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
–yvette caslin
