Sia Koroma

Sia Nyama Koroma
First Lady of Sierra Leone
In office 17 September 2007 – 4 April 2018
Preceded by	Isata Jabbie Kabbah
Succeeded by	Fatima Maada Bio
Personal details
Born	(1958-03-19) 19 March 1958 Yengema, Kono District, Sierra Leone
Nationality	Sierra Leonean
Political party	All People's Congress (APC)
Spouse(s)	Ernest Bai Koroma (1986 present)
Children	Alice, Yunia and Danke Koroma
Residence	State House (official) Freetown, Sierra Leone
Alma mater	Fourah Bay College King's College London
Profession	Biochemist, Psychiatric Nurse
Website	http://www.firstladysl.org (official website)

Sia Nyama Koroma (born on March 19, 1958^[1] in Yengema, Kono District) is Sierra Leonean biochemist and psychiatric nurse.^[2] She served as First Lady of Sierra Leone from 17 September 2007 - 4 April 2018. She is the wife of Ernest Bai Koroma, the 4th President of Sierra Leone.

Koroma was a pioneer in her role as First Lady, established the Office of the First Lady to undertake development initiatives.^[2] She focused on projects for Sierra Leonean women and children.^[2]

She is the founder of the Women’s Initiative for Safer Health (WISH) project which focuses on improving reproductive health for women.^[2]

Early life and education

She was born on March 19, 1958 in Yengema, Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. She is the daughter of Danke Koroma, a primary school teacher, and Abu Aiah Koroma, a lawyer and the former Attorney General of Sierra Leone.^[3] She is a member of the Kono ethnic group.

During her childhood, her father worked as the Managing Director of the National Diamond Mining Company (NDMC) before entering into politics. He served as Minister of Natural Resources and later as Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs. Her father was also a presidential candidate in the 1996 General Election. Koroma spent her early years at various primary schools around Sierra Leone as her father was being posted from one place to another.

She attended the Annie Walsh Secondary School in Freetown where she graduated as a Science student in 1976. She earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing from King's College London and Fourah Bay College in Freetown.

She moved to London for further studies and obtained a Master of Science in Organic Chemistry from the University of London.

She started her working life at the Sierra Leone Petroleum Refinery where she rose to the position of Chief Chemist. Her duties at the Petroleum Refinery included routine quality control of petroleum products, management of subordinate staff team and other senior management responsibilities.

First Lady of Sierra Leone

In September 2007, after a two-round election, Ernest Bai Koroma, a former insurance executive with no previous track record in politics, became the new President of Sierra Leone. His wife Sia Nyama Koroma who is a KT member was suddenly swept from being an 'ordinary' wife, mother and professional to be the First Lady of the country.

In February 2008, during a visit to the UK by the President and First Lady, the KT Sierra Leone Fellowship hosted a special service of thanksgiving for Sierra Leone. The special guest of honour was Mrs Sia Koroma.

The congregation which included Sierra Leone's High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner and other dignitaries was addressed by Pastor Amanda Dye. This is a brief recount of Sia's remarkable transformation from a servant in ministry to be the First Lady of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's New First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma is a woman of substance but with a humble disposition despite her admirable life achievements. Although she hails from the most prominent political family in Kono District in Sierra Leone, prior to now, the highly educated Sia Koroma never sought the limelight but quietly stayed in the background, strategically supporting her husband's political ambitions. Sia's deep faith and conviction as a born-again Christian has been well documented over the past few months as she has settled into her new official role.

Marriage and family

Koroma is the mother of five children. She has two daughters from a previous relationship and three children, Alice, Danke, and Yunis, with her current husband.

References