It takes two to tango. So also it takes two to make a successful family. In the West African nation of Senegal, the First Lady and wife of President Macky Sall speaks of how supportive they have been to each other in the course of their spousal journey and in serving the Senegalese nation and humanity.
Madam Sall has registered many achievements over the years in her philanthropic endeavour to serving humanity in various respects.
Over the years she has been relocating and caring for flood victims, and donating ambulances for easy access to especially health challenging districts. She as well provides food, medicines and free medical examinations to various communities across the country including prison inmates.
The First Lady has also been funding development activities by providing micro finances for women in Senegal and the diaspora. She often donates cleansing equipment and maintenance products as well as provides medical and logistics assistance for religious events.
Her contribution also gets into construction and renovation of places of worship.
She has also been donating solar panels to communities in the rural areas and rendering support to cultural and sporting events.
The dynamic, gorgeous and generous First Lady is indeed one of a kind. Elegance Magazine’s CEO and Managing Editor Chilel Sarr speaks with First Lady Marieme Sall in this exclusive interview.
Elegance: Could you please tell us who the First Lady is?
Marieme: I am Marieme Sall the First Lady of Senegal. I am a mother, wife and sister. I am also the president of Servir le Senegal, a foundation established by me to help in improving the living and working conditions of the poor. As First Lady I am even more inspired and committed to relate to the needy and less fortunate. I was born in Saint-Louis (north of Senegal), where I received primary education before moving to Diourbel (central region of Senegal) with my family.
The fourth child of a family of eight, after graduating with a technical high school degree, I attended the Higher Institute of Technology at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar with the ambition of maintaining a career in electrical engineering. I decided, after giving birth to my first child, to dedicate my life primarily to my family.
Elegance: What are the main areas of focus of your foundation?
Marieme: Initially we started on education, which is the key to success in the socio-economic development of a country, and also by educating women and girls it improves their living conditions and eradicates poverty among the less fortunate. Education, therefore, contributes significantly to poverty eradication.
The foundation also focuses on health improvement of the populace. It concentrates on this by making it a key priority in providing easy access to health care and other services. The foundation as well focuses on disease prevention hence it undertakes evacuation of patients that need emergency treatment abroad.
Access to clean water is also a fundamental objective to my foundation. I want everyone in Senegal to enjoy the facility by getting easy access to clean water, to improve the daily lives of especially people who do not have access to sanitation services. These elements areimportant to ensure a sustainable environment, as they are key indicators of human development.
Furthermore, on sustainable environment, the foundation encourages and supports the environment and natural resources management in the country.
Also pivotal on our agenda is women empowerment, which is a real asset for the social and economic development of Senegal. The foundation concentrates on gender equality, supporting women’s productivity by developing their means and capabilities. It essentially supports women in this respect by conducting activities that promote access to finance, training and supervision.
Access to clean water is also a fundamental objective to my foundation. I want everyone in Senegal to enjoy the facility by getting easy access to clean water, to improve the daily lives of especially people who do not have access to sanitation services. These elements are important to ensure a sustainable environment, as they are key indicators of human development.
Furthermore, on sustainable environment, the foundation encourages and supports the environment and natural resources management in the country.
Also pivotal on our agenda is women empowerment, which is a real asset for the social and economic development of Senegal. The foundation concentrates on gender equality, supporting women’s productivity by developing their means and capabilities. It essentially supports women in this respect by conducting activities that promote access to finance, training and supervision.
Elegance: You stood firm and did help your husband to succeed in the 2012 elections. Are you preparing to do the same in the upcoming election?
Marieme: I am behind my husband always. I will be more supportive of him to win the 2nd term and work with him all the way for a successful tenure.
Elegance: You are remarkably modest; how is it like demonstrating humility on the platform of a political high office as First Lady of Senegal?
Merieme: I’m very humble and simple; that is how I’m naturally. And I thank God people are realizing that. I always put God first and try to remain the person I am. So being the First Lady of Senegal does not change anything in me, such as lording it over others. Sometimes people will say to me: ‘You surprise people. You dress modestly like every other simple person’. I do not appear as someone different from my people.
Elegance: How challenging has it been playing a very supportive role to the number one citizen of Senegal – your husband, the President of the Republic of Senegal?
Marieme: We are Muslims and the challenge is to support my husband and stand by him in what he is doing. For example, whatever your parents are doing to be one family and put food on the table, you should standby them and help to achieve success. So I’m behind my husband and it is my duty as a wife to do so.
Elegance: You have been a good philanthropist supporting women, men and children through your foundation Le Servir Le Senegal. Your support has been channeled in diverse areas such as health and women empowerment. What inspired you to embark on such important initiative?
Marieme: What I’m doing with my foundation only God, who is my witness, knows. Senegalese know very little about it. Although, it is a foundation, it is also in line with our religion and culture, and we are doing a whole lot of things for Senegalese. Key areas of my foundation Senegalese know much or could testify about are the health and water sectors.
Elegance: You have been a strong advocate for clean water, what have you done in your capacity trying to meet that growing demand?
Marieme: The whole idea is to bring more clean and drinkable water to the doorsteps of Senegalese. Because people use to travel kilometers to fetch water in some regions in Dakar, I took it upon myself to bring tanks to the communities to make water more accessible to the people.
Elegance: Tell us about your life before becoming First Lady of Senegal?
Marieme: Before becoming the First Lady, I was always a homemaker. I went to college and in my first year I had my first child and after which I decided to withdraw of my own accord to attend to my family and I never regretted it. After that, I have been at my husband’s side supporting him. And so, it has been a peaceful life.
Elegance: Who is President Macky Sall, your husband, as Elegance Magazine would like to share with its readers who this intellectual, husband, father and great leader is, an account of whom coming from no other person than his spouse?
Marieme: My husband stands among the best among men. He is honest and straightforward; he is a man who loves his country. He believes in himself, has confidence and trust on himself. His love for Senegal is immeasurable. He’s a good husband and father. I just pray he realizes his dreams as a president and be able to deliver more to meet the expectations of the people of Senegal.
Elegance: What are the greatest achievements of your husband, particularly in the areas of women empowerment?
Marieme: He has been empowering women over the years, as for instance women hold key positions in his government. He ensures parity in official functions and duties of his government as wherever you see a man there is also a woman.
For example there was a female prime minister by the name of Mimi Toure and another minister and adviser of economic affairs Aminatta Taal. So he really believes in gender equality and doing well in his capacity to empower women.
Elegance: Who is your role model and why?
Marieme: My husband…haha!
Elegance: What was the feeling like when your husband was declared winner in 2012?
Marieme: I was fasting on that day. I was happy and thank God and pray to God Almighty that the dreams of Senegalese did not shatter. It’s because of trust and confidence he has been entrusted with the leadership of Senegal.
Elegance: What word of advice do you have for women who look up to you?
Marieme: Take care of yourself, your family and husband. Do well and good as wife so you leave a good legacy. We should know that nothing lasts forever, as everything has an end.
Elegance: What is so unique about you that people can learn from?
Marieme: People see different things. So it depends on what they see in me and admire.
Elegance: What do you do in your free time, and we have learnt that you still make time to cook for your husband unlike many other first ladies?
Marieme: Haha…! I have to supervise what my support eats. I know the foods my husband wants. I know the food he eats when he is tired, when he travels. So I’m playing my role as a wife.
Elegance: What relationship do you have with other First ladies in Africa?
Marieme: I have good relationship with all of them and whenever we meet we exchange views and ideas. I do talk with First Ladies of Chad and of Cote d’Ivoire and we do exchange gifts to each other.
Elegance: Final words?
Marieme: I would like Senegalese to know they have a First Lady that would like to be on their side, and she is a Senegalese like them ready to serve and come to their aid. A Senegalese who is conscious of her charges, a Senegalese in whom they can trust. I will be a mother to them, a sister, a confidant, as I make myself more accessible and I will do everything possible not to disappoint them because I represent the whole nation. I therefore should be the picture and ambassador for Senegal. I would thank Lady Chilel and the Elegance magazine for this great initiative. I wish you all the best.
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Quotes
“I am behind my husband always. I will be more supportive of him and work with him all the way for a successful tenure.”
“My husband President Macky Sall has been empowering women over the years.”
“I’m very humble and simple; that is how I’m naturally. And I thank God people are realizing that.”
“I would like Senegalese to know they have a First Lady that would like to be on their side always ready to serve and come to their aid.”
“I have good relationship with other First Ladies and whenever we meet we exchange views and ideas.”
“A woman should take care of yourself, your family and husband. Do well and good as wife so you leave a good legacy.
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