DISCOURS DE LA PREMIÈRE DAME LORS DE LA CÉRÉMONIE DE PRÉSENTATION DES VŒUX

My dear sisters,

It is with great joy that I welcome you today for the new year’s greetings.

First of all, I would like to convey the warm greetings and best wishes of my dear husband, President Alassane Ouattara, who has asked me to give you a big hug.

I would like to greet Kandia Camara, President of the Senate, and Mrs Chantal Camara, President of the Constitutional Council, I am to see again this afternoon.

I would now like to greet each one of you and thank you for being here today. Please give them a big round of applause.

I would especially like to thank my little sister, Mrs Nassénéba Touré, Minister for Women, the Family and Children, for her kind words addressed to me. I would also like to thank Mrs Oubah Younis, wife of the Ambassador of Djibouti and speaking on behalf of the Group of Ambassadors’ spouses, for whishing a happy new year.

I was very moved to hear all these speeches, and the kind words you spoke to me touched me deeply. Thank you all so much.

I realy appreciate the wonderful attentions and gifts I received. Thank you so much.

My dear sisters,

This moment, which brings us together every year, is always a wonderful opportunity for a reunion, which gives me the pleasant opportunity to send you my best wishes for a New Year full of health, joy and happiness for you, your  families and your loved ones.

I take this opportunity to greet each of you in your respective capacities:

• Presidents of Institutions,
• Ministers,
• Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
• Wives of Presidents of Institutions and Ministers
• Ambassadors,
• Members of the prefectoral corps,
• Elected representatives: Members of Parliament, Senators and Mayors,
• Economic and social advisors,
• Wives of political leaders,
• Political leaders,
• Presidents and General Managers,
• Army Senior Officers,
• Wives of the Grand Commanders of our defense and security forces,
• Members of the medical corps,
• Sports champions,
• Our brilliant teachers, our talented journalists and our magnificent artists,
• The  civil society, And all my dear sisters present here.

My dear sisters,

The past year has been marked by significant advances in our joint actions on behalf of women and children.

Thanks to your continued support, the Children of Africa Foundation has been able to pursue its initiatives, such as the renovation of the Foundation’s shelter Plateau, which opened its doors in March, and the house of life in Bingerville, which was inaugurated last May.

These infrastructures enable us to extend our assistance to a greater number of vulnerable families.

Our commitment to the health and well-being of our women and children, through the Bingerville Mother and Child Hospital, remains a priority. The progress made, thanks to the support of our partners and the dedication of our teams, is a real source of pride and additional motivation.

I happy to inform you that doctors successfuly separated  two Siamese twins. I visited them on Monday and I can assure you they are  in perfect health.

I would like to congratulate the MCH medical teams for their expertise and professionalism.

Concerning the health sector, we are still working on the construction of the new pediatric cardiology wing, to meet specific needs, such as complex surgical procedures on children with heart disease.

My dear sisters,

With regard to the fight against child labor, next March we will be presenting the new national action plan to combat child labor, in order to pursue our commitment to eradicating this scourge in our country.

Similarly, we have consolidated the achievements of the FAFCI program, which now benefits nearly 420,000 women across the country, with a capital of 26 billion F CFA.

This fund continues to be an essential tool for the economic empowerment of our sisters, and I’m very happy about that.

All the beneficiaries agree that the FAFCI represents a real opportunity to improve their living conditions and those of their families. For me, these stories are the greatest reward of all.

I would like once again to thank the President of the Republic for the support he gives to the women of Côte d’Ivoire, and for his renewed confidence over all these years.

My dear sisters,

Your commitment and leadership in your various fields of activity deserve to be honoured. You are the pillars of our country’s development and inspiring role models for future generations.

Whether in the economic, social, political or cultural sectors, you embody the hope and resilience of our Nation.

I encourage you to keep on giving your best in everything you do, as you always have. It is your personal success and our collective success that help shape the modern, forward-looking Côte d’Ivoire that so many people around the world appreciate today.

My dear sisters,

The year 2025 will also have its share of new challenges that we will be called upon to meet, each in our own fields. I remain convinced that we will be able to face any situation with courage and determination. United and mobilized, we’ll continue to fly the flag for our beautiful nation.

And it is also by supporting our most vulnerable sisters, by listening to their needs, that we will strengthen the social structure and contribute to peace and stability in our country.

My dear sisters,

At this point, I’d like to express my deep gratitude to all my collaborators who work alongside me with such dedication and zeal to bring our work to fruition.

Whether in Patricia Yao’s office, Nadine Sangaré’s Foundation or at the hospital, your professionalism and involvement are invaluable. I thank you for your presence by my side, and for the love you put into working for the well-being of our people.

I hope that this new year will give us the opportunity to work even harder for our fellow citizens, and to bring even greater relief to families who face difficulties on a daily basis.

My dear sisters,

I’d like to end by wishing you all an exceptional year, full of peace, health and happiness.